Small Farm Equipment, Inc.

What Small Farm Equipment, Inc. does

Small Farm is a certified organic farm operating 3 acres of cultivated land on a 20-acre preserved property at 184 Gleasondale Rd in Stow, Massachusetts. The business was taken over by farmer-owners Elena Colman and Karl Goethert in March 2018 from original owner Dwight Sipler, who had operated the farm for 20 years. The farm grows mixed vegetables, berries, and cut flowers using no-till and low-till methods, with high tunnels enabling extended-season production. It received USDA-accredited organic certification in 2023.

The company generates revenue through a multi-channel direct-to-consumer model centered on a year-round roadside farm stand, seasonal Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs (Spring, Summer, and Fall vegetable shares plus Tulip, Spring Flower, and Fall Flower shares), pick-your-own (PYO) flower experiences, an annual plant sale, and supplementary wholesale distribution. CSA pricing ranges from $160 (Spring CSA, 6 weeks) to $690 (Summer CSA, 18 weeks), with market-style shares allowing member flexibility, installment payment plans, and a work-for-shares option. The farm accepts SNAP/EBT, HIP benefits, and Massachusetts Farmers Market Coupons to maintain accessibility.

The business operates with a lean core team of 5 (2 farmer-owners plus 3 staff managers covering retail, field/compost, and greenhouse/wash-pack) supplemented by seasonal employees, and is supported by a network of local partners including Codman Farm, Holyoke Hummus, Boston Area Gleaners, and MDAR grant funding. The 20-acre property was purchased by Elena and Karl in 2022 and is protected by a conservation restriction held by the Town of Stow and Stow Conservation Trust, ensuring the land remains in agricultural use in perpetuity.

Name

Small Farm Equipment, Inc.

Legal name

Small Farm

Website

https://small-farm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Small Farm is a certified organic 3-acre farm in Stow, Massachusetts, operated by farmer-owners Elena Colman and Karl Goethert since 2018, selling produce, flowers, and seedlings directly to local consumers through a year-round farm stand, seasonal CSAs, and pick-your-own flower experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Certified organic farm produce and CSA shares

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Other Crop Farming (1119)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Produce & Farm Market Retail (CRAHAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

Keywords

• Certified organic produce
• Community supported agriculture
• Pick-your-own flowers
• Organic farm stand
• Seasonal flower CSA

Headquarters

HQ city

Stow

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. CSA Subscriptions: Community Supported Agriculture model providing seasonal produce shares. Three vegetable CSAs (Spring, Summer, Fall) and three flower CSAs (Tulip, Spring Flower, Fall Flower). Market-style CSA where members choose items each week. Generates upfront seasonal income for supplies and labor.
2. Farm Stand Retail Sales: Year-round roadside farm stand selling certified organic produce, flower bouquets, and locally sourced pantry items. Open seasonally with both staffed and honor-system hours.
3. Plant Sale: Spring plant sale offering certified organic vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings grown from seed in greenhouse. Available via online pre-order, Saturday staffed sales, and honor-system weekday sales.
4. Pick-Your-Own Flowers: Self-serve PYO flower field June-October. Also offers PYO buckets for DIY events ($80) and flower bouquets at the stand.
5. Wholesale: Produce available through wholesale channels in addition to direct-to-consumer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Small Farm is a certified-organic 3-acre farm in Stow, MA that sells seasonal mixed vegetables, berries, cut flowers, and organic seedlings directly to consumers through a year-round roadside farm stand, three seasonal vegetable and three seasonal flower CSA share programs, a self-serve pick-your-own flower field, an annual spring plant sale, and Seed Money electronic store credit. Wholesale produce distribution supplements direct sales.

Product overview

Small Farm operates as a certified organic 3-acre farm offering a multi-channel retail model centered around three main product lines: a year-round farm stand (Roadside Farm Stand), seasonal Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs (Spring, Summer, and Fall vegetable CSAs plus three seasonal Flower CSAs), and seasonal offerings (Spring Plant Sale and Pick-Your-Own flower field). The farm also offers Seed Money electronic gift cards for flexible store credit. Products are distributed through CSA memberships, the farm stand, and wholesale channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farm Stand Year-round roadside farm stand offering certified-organic vegetables, flower bouquets, and locally sourced pantry items and fruit from nearby producers. Open seasonally with extended staffed hours June through October and honor-system hours in the off-season.
• Spring CSA Six-week spring vegetable share running April-May with high-tunnel greens, herbs, and salad roots. Members choose 6 vegetables weekly from items such as lettuce, spinach, cilantro, radishes, bok choy, and scallions. Saturdays 10:00-4:00 pickup.
• Summer CSA Eighteen-week summer CSA (June-October) of diverse vegetables including strawberries, greens, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and winter squash. Members choose approximately 9 items weekly and gain access to pick-your-own vegetables such as sugar snap peas and cherry tomatoes. Wednesdays 12:00-6:00 or Saturdays 10:00-5:00 pickup.
• Fall CSA Four biweekly pick-up CSA running November-December featuring high-tunnel greens, field-dug roots, and staples like sweet potatoes and winter squash. Members choose on average 12 items per pick-up. Fridays 12:00-4:00 or Saturdays 11:00-3:00.
• Tulip Flower Share Three-week flower CSA beginning mid-April offering weekly tulip bouquets in diverse varieties and colors. Pickup on Saturdays.
• Spring Flower Share Four-week spring flower CSA beginning mid-May featuring tulips, stock, snapdragons, ranunculus, larkspur, and additional varieties. Saturday pickup; share includes a bouquet, 2 farm tours, and 1 PYO flower ticket.
• Fall Flower Share Four-week September flower CSA featuring dahlia-heavy arrangements with amaranth, eucalyptus, and rudbeckia. Saturday pickup; includes bouquet, 2 farm tours, and 1 PYO flower ticket.
• Pick-Your-Own Flowers Self-serve flower-picking field open June-October with kiosk supplies at the entrance. Also available as 5-gallon buckets for DIY flower arrangements at events ($80 per bucket; advance email required for large groups).
• Plant Sale Spring plant sale offering certified-organic vegetable, herb, and flower seedlings grown from seed in the on-site greenhouse. Available via online store reservation, staffed farm stand sales on Saturdays, and honor-system weekday sales.
• Seed Money (Store Credit and Gift Cards) Electronic store credit usable toward farm stand purchases including produce, plants, bouquets, and pick-your-own flowers. Managed through Square POS with online balance tracking for customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• CSA program operational since 2019 with market-style model allowing member flexibility
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Town of StowcoreOthers · 1 January 2022Collaborated with Town of Stow to place a conservation restriction on the 20-acre property, protecting the land for farming in perpetuity.
• Stow Conservation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Stow Conservation Trust to secure conservation restriction on the farmland. The Trust also maintains a public walking trail around the farm accessible to visitors.
• Codman FarmminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCodman Farm provides local meat products sold at Small Farm's farm stand.
• Boston Area GleanersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood rescue organization picks up donated produce weekly (for members unable to pick up CSA shares). Located 5 minutes away in Acton, MA.
• Holyoke HummusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal hummus product sold at Small Farm's farm stand as a complementary product.
• Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR)minorOthersState agricultural department providing infrastructure and energy grants that supported farm improvements including insulated wash station and solar panels.
• Applefield FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearby farm that introduced new operators Elena and Karl to Dwight Sipler, the previous owner of Small Farm.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Farmer Dave's: Multi-location CSA farm in Dracut, MA with summer and winter shares, farm stand, and PYO offerings — comparable product range and subscription model, scaled larger with multiple pickup sites.
• Powisset Farm: Trustees of Reservations property in Dover, MA offering a multi-season vegetable and flower CSA, farm stand, and PYO fields — directly comparable product mix and CSA structure within 25 miles of Stow.
• Appleton Farms: Trustees of Reservations property in Ipswich, MA operating a seasonal CSA plus farm store and PYO — comparable multi-channel CSA/farm stand model in eastern Massachusetts.
• Waltham Fields Community Farm: Organic farm in Waltham, MA running a 20-week summer CSA plus farm stand and PYO offerings, with a strong food access mission that mirrors Small Farm's SNAP/HIP and gleaning partnerships.
• Verrill Farm: Family farm in Concord, MA with a year-round farm stand, PYO fields, and seasonal CSA — comparable suburban Boston footprint with a strong retail orientation.
• Drumlin Farm: Mass Audubon-run farm in Lincoln, MA with a CSA program, farm stand, and PYO crops, sharing Small Farm's CSA-plus-retail distribution model and conservation-oriented positioning in suburban MetroWest.
• Lexington Community Farm: Nonprofit organic farm in Lexington, MA offering CSA shares and farm stand sales — directly comparable CSA-plus-retail model, and notably managed by co-owner Elena Colman.
• Siena Farms: Certified organic family farm in Sudbury, MA offering multi-season vegetable CSA shares, farm stand, and wholesale — operating within roughly 20 miles of Small Farm with a very similar product mix and direct-to-consumer model.
• Codman Farm: Lincoln, MA farm operating a CSA and farm stand with locally sourced meat and pantry items — directly comparable scale and product mix, and already a commercial partner to Small Farm.

Emerging players

• The Food Project: Greater Boston nonprofit operating CSA programs across multiple farm sites with a focus on youth development and food access — overlapping mission with Small Farm's gleaning and SNAP/EBT-inclusive model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SmallFarmStow
• Instagraminstagram.com/smallfarmstow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/small-farm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Small Farm Equipment, Inc.