Brian Bergen
Brian spent most of his childhood years in northern NJ, including summers at his family's small lakeside cabin in rural Sussex county, where roadside farm stands selling local produce were prevalent. His first direct experience with agriculture came during his college years on a 6-month research project in a rural section of Zimbabwe. He received his BA in Anthropology and Sociology from Vassar College in 1989 and an MA in Religious Studies from Union Theological Seminary in 1992. In 1998, he left the Doctoral program in Sociology at CUNY to work in video and film production. This led to a managerial position at an internet startup, which then folded in 2002. The next summer, Brian grew his first heirloom tomato as a guest grower on Good Hand organic farm in Andover, NJ . In 2004, Brian moved to Putnam Valley and began a small organic operation called Bell Hollow Farm. In 2007, he joined forces with The Garrison and began to design and build the gardens which he currently tends. In addition, Brian has also planted over 3 acres of native grass and wildflower meadows in the out-of-play areas on the Garrison Golf Course.