ABOUT YOUR FARMERS
Toby Fischer, Ro-Jo Farms founding farmer, was born and raised in Hamden, CT. He graduated from Bates College in 2006 with a degree in social anthropology. After graduating he spent a few years in San Francisco, where he ran a bio-fuel service company and along the way developed a passion for local and sustainable food.
Toby has traveled extensively and lived in Tanzania for more than two and a half years. He returned to Connecticut in 2010 and shortly thereafter started developing plans for Ro-Jo Farms. The farm was established in 2012, and in 2013 it opened to the public as a CSA. Toby is excited about the 2014 growing season and is pleased to have his longtime friend Josiah Venter join him at Ro-Jo.
When not farming Toby spends time baking lots of bread, enjoying the local hiking trails and sleeping in.
A native of New Haven, Josiah Venter graduated from Kenyon College in 2005 with a BA in cultural anthropology. Since then he has lived in Argentina, Idaho, and Brooklyn while working as a teacher, coach, cook, and musician.
Josiah’s farming experience began at The Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, where he completed a six-month field apprenticeship cultivating four acres of vegetables. He is excited about joining his friend Toby at Ro-Jo Farms and reconnecting with the community.
In his free time, Josiah loves working on Spanish, cooking spicy foods, playing music and walking dogs in parks.
ABOUT HISTORIC RO-JO FARM
Since the 1600's, Bethany, Connecticut has been an area rich in agricultural development and commerce. Farming has been a way a life and a source of great pride.
Pictured at right stands the Jerome Downs house, built in 1879. Sources estimate that by 1900, the original Ro-Jo Farm was in operation on the Downs property, which was over 58 acres at the time. Run by Jerome Downs Jr., known as 'Romie,' and his wife Josephine, the farm focused on livestock, dairy and hay. The original farm house and farm stayed in the Downs family until 1955.
In 2011, Toby Fischer began renovating the house and reclaiming and preparing the land, which had suffered decades of accumulated growth. Today, Ro-Jo Farms is thrilled to return the spirit of farming to this historical site.
The Jerome Downs property at 327 Litchfield Turnpike is featured in Alice Bice Bunson's book, Bethany's Old Houses and Community Buildings.
The original logo of Romie & Josesphine's Ro-Jo Farm.