Our Story
We are Matt and Meagan Vesta. Our story begins a few years ago when the corporate grind began to lose it’s allure for us both. We knew there was something more we were being called to do. It was then that Vesta Family Farms slowly came into focus.
Matt grew up on a hobby farm in northwest Wisconsin where his Mom and Dad owned and operated a small greenhouse business. It was there he learned and fell in love with gardening and growing healthy and nourishing food. He and Meagan met in college and were married in 2009. In college, Matt studied Computer Science and Music and Meagan studied Marketing and Photography. We both forged careers in our respective fields, but always dreamed of going into business for ourselves.
Through a series of Blessings both great and small, we found ourselves with the opportunity to start a market farm on our small slice of paradise in Hilliard, FL. With Matt’s practical experience in farming and Meagan’s extensive knowledge in sales, marketing, and merchandising, we are thrilled to bring real, local produce to the Jacksonville area community we have called home since 2011.
Our Mission
Our mission is help feed the Northeast Florida community with healthy and nourishing produce. Our three main principles are as follows:
Natural - No pesticides, No herbicides, no chemicals. Period. To paraphrase the “Back to Eden” method, we aim to recreate the natural balance that God uses in nature all around us.
Regenerative - We prioritize soil regeneration through the use of cover crops, crop rotation, and using compost. Healthy soil is the foundation for healthy, nutrient dense food. This means we do as little tilling as possible and focus on permanent crop beds.
Local - Northeast Florida is our home. We love our community and want to have a positive impact on it.
Saint Phocas
Saint Phocas, sometimes called Phocas the Gardener or Phocas of Sinope (Greek:Φωκᾶς), is venerated as a martyr by the Orthodox Church.
Christian tradition states that he was a gardener who lived at Sinope, on the Black Sea, who used his crops to feed the poor and also aided persecuted Christians.
During the persecutions of Diocletian, he provided hospitality to the soldiers who were sent to execute him. The soldiers, not knowing that their host was their intended victim, agreed to his hospitality. Phocas also offered to help them find the person who they sought.
As the soldiers slept, Phocas dug his own grave and also prayed fervently. In the morning, when the soldiers awoke, Phocas revealed his identity.
The soldiers hesitated and offered to report to their commander that their search had been fruitless. Phocas refused this offer and bared his neck. He was then decapitated and buried in the grave that he had dug for himself.
Saint Phocas pray for us!