Triple Green Jade Farm in Willsboro growing roots

WILLSBORO | It's true, and Dan and Kim Rivera can confirm it; chickens are truly the "gateway drug to farming." "We had a property downstate in Hudson, and we wanted to do more homesteading, be more self-sufficient, so we started experimenting with 25 chickens," he shared. "It was great. We were getting eggs, and I was bringing the eggs to work. I guess you could say we fell down the rabbit hole." And quite the hole it was, as the Riveras eventually sought out land to grow their farm. Unfortunately, the cost of land in the Hudson Valley was out of their price range, so they sought out other properties further north. "The Adirondacks were a place that we had been coming up to for vacations for years, and Kim's parents retired in Saranac Lake about 15 years ago, so we got the idea to check out the Adirondacks for land," Dan said. "The land was definitely cheaper up there than it was in the Hudson Valley." Craigslist, while primarily known for buying and selling items, can feature a wide variety of unexpected listings. That's how the Riveras came across an 80-acre property for sale in Willsboro. While several factors contributed toward the family's decision, what made their decision final was the Saranac Lake Village Farmers' Market, said Dan, about the market that meets at Riverside Park every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. "We're like, 'Wow, these are our kind of people.'" And so, the Riveras purchased the property, known today as Triple Green Jade Farm. "It was in rough shape, but my wife and I brought it back to life," said Dan, after making several capital improvements to the property, including upgrading the electrical, water, and septic systems. "Over time, we started adding more and more to the farm." One of the first things the Riveras did was convert the existing garage into a commercial kitchen and build their very own wood-fired oven so that they could start producing a variety of freshly-baked bread using organic flour, such as semolina with sesame seeds, focaccia, and ciabatta. "We were already breaking bread at home, and back then, one of the things we noticed that was missing from the farmers' markets was organic flour," Dan said. "So, we thought selling breads with organic flour would be important." And so, as an attempt to get their name out there, the Riveras started participating in several farmers' markets throughout the area — selling not only their handmade bread, but products produced from their farm animals, too. Since moving in 2014, the Riveras added more chickens for eggs and meat; cows for both beef and milk; and pigs for pork. They even found ways to minimize waste, such as by producing and selling items like chicken bone broth and liver pate. Today, they have 60 Red Star chickens for eggs, three Mangalitsa pigs for pork, and two cows, Darla and Bella, who are pets, and they continue to sell their products. However, they're no longer partaking in several farmers' markets, but just one — the Saranac Lake Village Farmers' Market. They also now sell their products at Trigo, a whole grain bakery, farm store, and community cafe in Westport that they opened in winter 2023. "It sat empty for a couple of years, and during the pandemic, we were looking for a place to rent for baking primarily because we were outgrowing our current space," Dan shared. "So, we met with someone through friends; we cleaned it up; and then we got in and got started." The farm store specializes in artisan sourdough breads and handmade baked goods using freshly-milled organic and local flours. But it also sells a variety of other local products, as well, including cheese from North Country Creamery in Keeseville, veggies from Juniper Hill Farm in Wadhams, milk from Hidden Acres Dairy in Chazy, and meat from Harmony Hills Farmstead in Malone. And thanks to a $15,000 grant awarded in December 2023 through the Essex County IDA, the Riveras hope to start making and selling freshly made pasta by this fall. "When you buy local, you can see the face of the farmer, the face of the baker, the face of the butcher. You get to see all these people and connect with them on a deeper level," Dan said. "And that's what we want to promote here in the North Country." For more information about Triple Green Jade Farm, visit triplegreenjadefarm.com. For more information about Trigo, visit cafetrigo.com.

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Triple Green Jade Farm in Willsboro growing roots

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