about
Our story begins with our team—us. Communitas Farm is powered by a two-person partnership, Nick and Shosh.
Since meeting in college in 2015, we’ve held a variety of government, non-profit, and university jobs focused on different aspects of environmental and human health. After graduating college, Shoshana found her calling in organic farming while working at Moon Valley Farm in Baltimore County. She held several jobs after Moon Valley but returned to the field a couple years later, this time in Howard County, as a full-time organic vegetable farmer at Clark’s Elioak Farm.
As the Covid-19 pandemic worsened throughout 2020, the economic fallout suddenly caused many people to, for the first time in their lives, become food insecure. In addition, the impacts to food systems—disrupted supply chains, empty grocery store shelves, and limited availability—forced many people to start considering the source of their food. Watching this unfold, Shosh partnered with a local non-profit to provide produce for food distribution centers in Howard County. Over the course of three years, she helped grow and donate several tons of food to local residents. She worked throughout the pandemic to increase food production and ensure the supply of fresh vegetables throughout Howard County.
In late 2022, we decided to create our own farm, specializing in sustainably grown produce, to support ourselves and nourish our community. We found a property that was ripe for this adventure and decided to put our roots down in northern Baltimore County, where Nick grew up and where Shosh began farming.
Shoshana Nachman
I remember going to Larriland Farm, in western Howard County, as a child. I used to pick apples, blueberries, and pumpkins with my friends and family. Little did I know that an activity as simple as picking delicious fruit would become such a large part of my life. In fact, I didn’t think farming could be career for myself until I entered my mid-to-late 20s.
In college, I studied environmental science. I knew I wanted to work outside, but I also wanted to support my community and help address climate change at a local level. For a while, it was difficult to reconcile these values. I worked various jobs looking for “the right fit.”
Unexpectedly, I found that farming combined my values with my desire to be connected to nature. I’m excited to enter the next phase of my farming journey, starting a farm that is ecologically and sustainably minded.
Check out my interview with VoyageBaltimore to learn more about my journey.
Nick Healy
I love vegetables—salad has always been my favorite food—but I didn’t really think about food until I read Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, which forced me to consider the source and quality of my food.
A connection between my background and farming may not be immediately clear; however, my penchant for creating, learning, and getting my hands dirty provides a strong foundation for this endeavor. I hold master’s degrees in biotechnology and professional writing as well as a bachelor’s degree in environmental science. I’m drawn to farming because of the breadth of skills, knowledge, and innovation it demands.