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Because agriculture is imperative to our survival, it threads its way through every facet of our lives - from nourishing our bodies to protecting pollinators to fueling our homes. The folks at Good Company recognize this as interconnectedness and have woven it into the foundation of their farm plans.
"There are so many connections between farming and larger themes like health, community food systems, education, environment, and social justice. We aim to be a community of people interested in engaging with those topics, and our farm name acts as an invitation to have those conversations. Good conversion in good company!," says co-owner, Harvest Browder. "We are just starting out but we want this to be a very open and community integrated farm. We are still figuring out the details and doing the ground work to make this space as intentional and vibrant as possible within our smaller unique footprint."
Partially established in 2022 with considerable expansion in 2026, Good Company is the collaborative effort of Harvest, her partner, Jacob Burges, and his parents, Stephen Burges and Laura Ponder, all of whom have agriculture backgrounds. Their acreage is located in Rutherfordton, NC, and they are currently growing food on a third of an acre with plans to expand to two acres in a few years. Harvest fell in love with farming while attending Warren Wilson College in Black Mountain, NC, and currently works for the Community Farm Stop of Rutherford County. Jacob's experience includes working locally on Old North Farm in Cleveland County and internationally on a farm in Italy through the organization World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Good Company's resident beekeeper, Stephen, got his start in farming when he was a young adult working on a large fruit farm in the UK. Some farmers and gardeners in Rutherford County may recognize Laura as a former agent with the NC Cooperative Extension in Spindale, and now a horticulture professor at Blue Ridge Community College. Because they share many of the same farming values, this team of four works well together. As stewards of the land, they believe it is important to ask "who/what is benefiting from this" and "how can we be intentional about it?" Through their recognition that everything is interconnected, they utilize organic and low-till practices for soil health, biodiversity, and, ultimately, the benefit of the wider community.
For the 2026 season, Good Company is growing vegetables, ginger & turmeric, and perennial berries such as blueberries, blackberries, and elderberries. Their future plans include turning a Helene-disturbed area on their thickly wooded property into a plot for experimental agroforestry and silvopasture fruit and nut trees. Their group conversations buzz with dreams and visions of curating their space for community gatherings, educational programming, and showcasing local food. Long story short - Good Company plans to embody the interconnectedness of farming!
You can find their goods at the Community Farm Stop of Rutherford County, Yellow Sun Pizza, and the Mills River Farm Store. Their ginger & turmeric is often found at the French Broad Co-Op in Asheville during the fall.
