Reviews for: Biophilia Organic Farm

I embrace the goals and accomplishments that Phil outlined in the latest New York Organic News article about Phil and Biophilia. Ira Haspel from KK's the Farm.

As a Worker-Share June through October, being on the farm were some of my favorite hours learning, farming, & loving the space, weather, & priceless energetic knowledge shared by Farmers Abra & Phil. Every week I went home with an overflowing bag of the freshest fruits & vegetables. So much so week after week, I was delighted to share with friends. Phil is beyond experienced & happy to answer questions & is a chill, trusting teacher. He laughed a little at a first important question: will I get garlic? After trying 9 varieties, I understand his ha. Be sure to attend the 'Tomato and Garlic Festival' in August to sample 40 types of tomatoes and vote for your favorite. It's free, and OH the flavors! As soon as I stepped foot on the farm for a tour, I knew I was in the right place. A happiness washed over me & was always with me when I was there. Learning new recipes, trying new vegetables, & canning for the first time ever- These people are following their bliss, and it tastes Beautiful!

I am so glad that it is almost time to start seeing Phil and his wonderful team weekly for our organic produce! Gathering our weekly surprises has encouraged us to be more creative in the kitchen and even as a vegeterian for 20 years, I am happy to be discovering new recipes as a result of our weekly "goods." With just half a share, it is more than enough for my husband and I. I usually have a few things to pass along to neighbors too. I know I feel better eating the veggies from Biophilia but I was pleasantly surprised for proof of just how important eating my greens and the veggies are. After our first Biophilia season, at my annual check up my doctor looked at my bloodwork results and said "obviously you take your multi-vitamins." And the coolest part is that I actually do not, I beleive in getting our nutrients from our food. For the last three years as a Biophilia member, each Fall I get the same excellent levels of vitamins. Much gratitidue and love to Phil, Clare & Pudge!

Last year was our first experience with a CSA and we decided to work a couple of hours a week at Biophilia for a half share. We enjoyed the farm and Phil so much we found ourselves there longer than we needed to be. Our share provided us with many greens that we never tried before as well as nine different types of garlic. We also tried dozens of different types of tomatoes as well as okra, peppers, potatoes and other weekly surprises. All of this was absolutely delicious. Our half share was so abundant that we were often able to share it with family and neighbors. We enjoyed working on the farm with Phil and other members of the CSA so much we are doing it again this year (and have already been out there a few times before the season starts)!

Phil does a great job providing fresh produce as well as community spirit. I look forward to picking up our 1/2 share every Thursday which is always a decent quantity and exceptionally fresh. There is usually an interesting veggie or two that is sure to spark interesting conversation and a recipe exchange. We are now addicted to okra! Phil also allows a swapping table that allows one to customize their share.

This will be my third year with Biophilia. I am a full share worker, working at least 4 hours once a week for 20 weeks. The produce that we raise on the farm is excellent. In the Spring, we harvest mostly greens, and as the seasons progress, more and more vegetables enter our boxes. Everything is delicious and raised according to strict organic standards. This past year, we had enough tomatoes to make sauce. My wife and I had the last of the sweet potatoes on April 2, and they were sweet and delicious. I am very pleased with the quality of the produce and its abundance. As an added bonus, the flowers that we get each week are great.

I can't say enough good things about this farm and it's farmer Phil. I have been part of this CSA for years now, and each year is better than the last. The enormous quantity and variety of tomatoes at the end of the season is overwhelming. The potato variety is gorgeous in color, and all of the vegetables are picked the same day you get them, filling your car with the most amazing smell impossible to reproduce even from the supermarkets organic section or even from a regular farmstand I have not experienced this. Anything you don't like can be traded for something you do like. Farmer Phil is one of the nicest people I have ever met, and anyone associated with him is special as well. He runs a great young farmers program that he doesn't make a dime off of, just to teach the next generation. They plant, weed, and harvest their own plots.He also has potluck lunch days, and tastings (the tomatoe and garlic one is priceless. The variety of both are unreal) for members. Best farm and CSA!

I am looking forward to picking up the weekly "Goodies" provided by Phil from Biophilia Organic Farm at the Port Jeff Farmers Market. I needed a convenient pick up site and Biophilia was highly recommended by other organic CSA's. I have been very satified with our produce and service. Phil and family are a pleasure and the vegetables have been abundant and the variety is great. Phil is full of knowledge and always sharing interesting information on this weeks harvest. On the occasion I picked up at the farm, I was invited to jump in the golf cart and got the grand tour! I highly recommend Biophilla and look forward to the buckets of goodies all throughout the year.

We were members of Biophilia's CSA last year and joyfully joined again this year. Phil has a wonderful farm and a fantastic program that not only opened my eyes to what is available locally, but gave my young son a chance to learn about where his veggies come from. My son is 5 and was a member of the young farmer's program Phil is kind enough to have along with the CSA. Colin loved it, and so did we.

This was my first experience with a CSA, and I am so happy that I did it. The produce was great, and I am fully endorsing Farmer Phil and Biophilia. I cant wait for our first pick up!

I have bought from quit a few Organic Farms on the East End of Long Island and and I must say this is one of the Best! What a great Experience. I had gotten the best shares of greens and herbs through the whole season. Buckets of Tomatos, potatoes, peppers, okra and sweet potatoes of Course Garlic and Hot peppers, just to name a few items and whatever was in season at the moment. Its great to know where your food comes from and any question that I may have Phil or Claire (the farmers Daughter) would be happy to answer. I met many nice, informative and smart people who were willing to share with everyone!! The best was that I had the pleasure of Sharing Phil and Claire's produce with my 83 year old Aunt who was here in August for a 2 week stay. We had Fresh Greens everynight. She knows the value of quality produce having grown up on a Farm from the age of 2 months old, on Long Island, she now lives in South Carolina. My Aunt could not get over how wonderful the greens and Tomatoes were. She kept saying "The tomatoes are like Papa's!! "They looked and tasted like her Fathers. Well when she went back to South Carolina I had to bring her to the airport and carry her bags Her pocket book was over 10 lbs all by itself. Keep in mind she is 4'9" and 85 lbs. We had to redistribute the contents of bags while at the airport. She had tomatoes from Biophilia in all 3 of her bags. When she got home her friends in her community had the pleasure of eating the tomatoes as well!!!

When we moved out east we wanted to join a local CSA again. Biophilia was recommended by our former CSA. Phil and Clare are very welcoming to thir farm. They are always able to provide you with information. Phil works hard to make it a community, having events throughout the year. the tomato and garlic tasting was a lot of fun.

We got buckets of tomatoes and potatoes. We share them with family who asked us for more because it is higher quality than what they can buy in the stores. Phil makes sure that each share has something interesting to introduce you to, I am now in love with tea made from fresh chocolate mint.

We moved to Long Island this past year and wanted to join a CSA for the first time. We never imagined that we would find one that was organic too. From the very beginning when we met Phil at the Port Jefferson Farmer's Market he took the time to answer all of our questions, and made us feel at ease with the whole experience. He welcomed us to tour the farm whenever we wanted (which we did multiple times). Phil did caution us that a full share may be too much for a family of 3, but we decided to do it anyway. It was a lot of food for us at times but thankfully we have several family members who are willing to take what we cannot freeze/eat. We appreciated the fact that Phil did not try to sell us more than we could use. This is just one example of his character and integrity. Phil, his family and everyone who works at the farm are warm, open, friendly and were always willing to take the time to answer our questions and show us around. The whole experience is far more than just picking up a box of great fruit and vegetables each week. You establish a relationship with the people who are working hard to bring you the food each week. Far more satisfying than buying them at the grocery store .

The food was delicious, high quality and extremely fresh. Amazing how different fresh produce tastes! In addition, we were able to try vegetables that we had never had before. I am looking forward to next season and will miss all the fresh produce this winter. Although I bet Phil, his family and everyone else who works at the farm is looking forward to a little rest and relaxation after all the tremendously hard work they put in this past season.

My wife and I have been members in this CSA for the past (3) years. We have been exceedingly pleased with the experience, both with the actual produce and the CSA Events (particularly the garlic and tomato tasting). In our experience, Phil is a pleasure to deal with and will try his best to accommodate each member. The personal touch that Phil provides makes the experience even more worthwhile. I would highly recommend anyone interested in joining a CSA to give Biophilia a chance!

We happened by the farm on our way to some vineyards and rather than continue our journey, we stayed with the Barbatos, and experienced the farm's magic, thanks to the company of Phil and his family.

We found the garlic so exhilerating because, indeed, fresh organic garlic is hardly ever available to the general public. Yes, we can buy organic garlic, but how "fresh" is it really? Fresh organic garlic is much more subtle than that found in the stores. You can totally eat it raw without dying. We ate the garlic (while at the farm) with rosemary and olive oil on bread. It was so good we bought a whole ring of garlics.

We also have had two meals already with the hot peppers we purchased: scrambled eggs and a huge garden salad. In the eggs we had one of the long green papers and in our salad, we had a fat round red pepper; the peppers were great.

Thanks to the youngest member of the Barbato family, we experienced a tour of the 14 acre farm which really helped us see the beauty and industry which goes on at the farm. Thank you! The farm is so fantasic! Thank you Phil and Family

We started with Phil last summer and he rocked our world. What he produces is phenominal, between quality and variety. I was almost in tears after our last pickup last season knowing I had to rely on grocery store produce for the winter. He takes his work seriously, last year fretting at the thought he is personally responsible for food people eat all summer.

The best thing about Biophilia and Phil, aside from the wonderful produce of course, is the way he makes his farm feel like home. He is a very warm and inviting person, always willing to talk shop. It's not a simple pick-up of produce, it's a summer long experience, with tastings, picking days and pot-lucks. Any information he has about local organic festivals he passes on when you visit, but also in his weekly newsletter.

In the newsletter he keeps us up to date with goings on, what's being planted, transplanted, harvested and so on. He adds recipes to help us use what he has given us that week. The extra time and effort this takes is more proof of how very dedicated he is.

We are looking forward to the 2009 season and many more to come!

I joined this CSA last year and cannot wait for it to resume this summer, everything was amazing and Phil is very passionate and knowledgeable about everything he grows. He always has new treats that I have never seen before and the tomato and garlic tasting is fantastic. Thanks Phil looking forward to seeing you this summer!