Meet Laura
Laura began working on organic vegetable farms in Northern California in 2018, and started By Hand Farm in 2022, growing specialty cut flowers on ¼ acre of leased land. She also worked part-time at Milkweed Farm for the last 5 years, and this new chapter of taking over New Leaf CSA represents a continuation of her inability to choose between growing only flowers or vegetables.
Favorite vegetables: fennel, eggplant, all the fresh herbs
Favorite flowers: lisianthus, cosmos, marigolds
History of the Farm
Elizabeth Wood started New Leaf CSA in 2002 on land leased from the historic Scott Farm in Dummerston. She grew organic vegetables for her CSA members and the Brattleboro Winter Farmers Market for 24 years. Laura Xiao started By Hand Farm in 2022 on leased land in Newfane, and grew flowers for 5 seasons. In the fall of 2026, Laura and her partner Ramsey Demeter purchased the New Leaf CSA business from Elizabeth, and signed a new lease with Scott Farm for the same 7 acre parcel. They are beyond excited to continue growing vegetables and flowers on this land, with the deepest respect for everyone who has walked and worked before them. Moving forward, they will sell vegetables as New Leaf CSA, and sell flowers as By Hand Floral.
Meet Ramsey
Ramsey started working on organic farms in 2008 in Northern California with the belief that small farms could save the world. He now spends his days working as a carpenter, but you’ll see him helping out on the farm with his absolute favorite chore: mowing.
Favorite vegetables: tomatoes, radicchio, salad mix
Favorite flowers: all dahlias, snapdragons, larkspur
Mission Statement
We use organically aligned practices to farm in collaboration with all the living beings we are interconnected to, in order to grow vegetables and flowers to feed our community’s bodies and souls.