Melissa Phillips

Hidden Acre Farm

Melissa comes to the Real Organic Project as a first generation vegetable and flower farmer, passionate about stewarding the environment, supporting farmers and strengthening the food system. Melissa was drawn to farming after relocating from London, England to Austin, Texas to pursue a master's in Sustainability where her eyes were opened to the negative impact industrial agriculture has on aquatic environments. As she followed the pollution upstream she was compelled to start growing food herself. Backyard turned community gardens turned organic farm in the Sierras and she was hooked! Fast forward to the present day and she and her husband have built a small certified organic and Real Organic farm in Upstate NY, called Hidden Acre Farm. They sell their vegetables and flowers at three weekend farmers markets including Carroll Gardens Greenmarket in Brooklyn.

Though incredibly rewarding and tasty, farming is a tough and risky business and Melissa sees great purpose in supporting the people that grow our food. Sourcing food from farms that are growing in harmony with nature, raising animals humanely and treating people fairly has a real impact on our environment, communities and local economies. Melissa is part of the Regional Organizer team and will be visiting farms in the North East.