Ian Jerolmack’s passion for farming started when he was just a sprout. His childhood was spent living in the suburbs and both of his parents were from the city, but he constantly gravitated towards the farms that existed beyond the sphere of this residential world. He would tell anyone who asked that he wanted to be a farmer when he grew up and raised chickens and ducks, kept a large garden, froze extras, and planted apple trees in his youth. It wasn’t until he was a bit older and had started working at organic vegetable farms that he began to see a viable future for himself as a farmer. He started working on vegetable farms to gain experience and enhance his self-taught knowledge of plants and eventually sought out more specialized mentors during apprenticeships on several farms.
Ian ended up in Maine on a bicycle trip and was taken with the land, people and climate here. The land prices were affordable compared to where he came from, which made his dream of starting a farm more imaginable. Initially, he had planned on living in Downeast, but with the help of Maine Farmland Trust, he was connected with a piece of property that suited his needs in Bowdoinham, ME, where Stonecipher Farm is now located. Ian has built two houses on the property, a barn, a greenhouse (then 12 more), added gravel, buried irrigation, a composting pad, and much more over the years. About five years ago, the farm transitioned from tillage to a no-till operation, which has transformed the property into a beautiful, tidy and permanent version of a farming ecosystem. There are trees everywhere between plantings, as well as bushes and flowers. Stonecipher Farm is certified organic and, although Ian is dedicated to following organic principles, certification requires constant extra effort to meet those standards.
The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) has been at the heart of Ian’s farming experience in Maine and he is very connected to the farming community— especially the organic subset and, to an even greater degree, the “no-till” community. He has always prioritized creating familiarity with fellow farmers by learning from them and caring about them and their operations. Bowdoinham is proud of its long history of vegetable farming, which has made it easy for Stonecipher to fit in. Unlike city life, rural farmers don’t deal with noise complaints or “mud on the road” complaints (conversely, people love that stuff in Bowdoinham!) and Ian feels truly fortunate to have found such a like-minded community. The farm has 12 employees, 3 or 4 of which stay for the winter and the rest of whom stay for the other 9 months of the year. Ian’s employees are folks from Chiapas Mexico, many of whom return every year with the H2A visa program. He has built amazing relationships with his employees and has enjoyed being able to amplify their voices and draw attention to their plight!
Stonecipher’s farm store and farm pick-up CSA brings customers right up the driveway and into the heart of vegetable production, which is just how Ian likes it. Classes on various farming topics are offered throughout the year, as well, such as “Basic Farm Skills” and their upcoming “Advanced No-Till Weekend Intensive” on August 9, 2025. The Blue Hill Co-op carries a variety of Stonecipher produce through the year so be sure to keep an eye out! You can get to know Ian and his crew via their Facebook and Instagram pages @StonecipherFarmMaine.
