Growing Health: A Regenerative Farm Tour in Central NJ
Details
Head out to Central New Jersey for a one-of-a-kind immersive farm experience as we visit two inspiring regenerative farms — Cold Brook Farm in Oldwick and Ethos Farm in Long Valley — for a day of learning, connection, and fresh air. We’ll get closer to the source of our food while deepening our understanding of plant-powered living and sustainable agriculture.
The tour begins at Cold Brook Farm, where farmers Jason and Deb DeSalvo will guide us through their diverse and abundant landscape. Their farm showcases permaculture in action, with over 70 varieties of nuts, grains, fruits, and vegetables.
We’ll then caravan to Ethos Farm, 20 minutes away, a regenerative organic farm and healthcare model, where Jason and Nora Pugliese, Ethos Farm Manager, will continue the conversation. You’ll gain insight into how the production of whole plant foods grown in healthy soils serve as “living medicines” to prevent and reverse chronic disease and advance planetary health.
Following the tour, enjoy a relaxed picnic (please bring your own lunch in a cooler) on the beautiful grounds of Ethos Farm, with the option to purchase freshly-harvested offerings from the Doctor’s Farm Market and nearby farms. Ron Weiss, MD, Ethos Farm to Health founder and PPMNY Healthcare Advisor, will join us over lunch, adding to the opportunity for meaningful discussion and connection.
Participants are welcome to stay into the early afternoon, with the option to attend Ethos Farm’s Farm & Garden Tea Social beginning at 2:00 PM — please register for that event separately if you intend to stay.
About Our Speakers:
Jason DeSalvo grew up in suburban New Jersey, co-founded Strategic Outpatient Services in 1995, and continues to serve as its CEO while also contributing to several nonprofit boards and community organizations. Now a regenerative farmer at Cold Brook Farm, he combines his business background with a passion for sustainable agriculture, whole foods, and an active outdoor lifestyle.
Deb DeSalvo began her career in New York radio before becoming a stay-at-home mother, later evolving into a Master Gardener and environmental educator focused on birds and native plants. She now supports conservation efforts through leadership roles while embracing her interests in nature, baking, reading, and family life.
Nora Pugliese started as a backyard gardener, becoming an apprentice organic farmer in 1994 at Farmer John’s Organic Produce — the first organic farm in New Jersey. By 2000, she started her own organic CSA and ran it for over twelve years. In 2014, Nora became the farm manager at the Ethos Farm to Health, where she transitioned the farm to a certified organic operation and acquired certification from The Real Organic Project.
Ron Weiss, MD, is board certified in Internal and Lifestyle Medicine and is Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is the founder of Ethos Farm to Health and practices primary care in New Jersey and New York.
Presented in partnership with Cold Brook Farm and Ethos Farm to Health
To Register:
A suggested donation of $20, though any amount is welcome.
In addition to on-site purchases at the Ethos market, you can pre-purchase certified organic, regeneratively grown grains from Cold Brook Farm at this link. Please make your purchases by Wednesday, June 17, so they are ready to pick up that Friday.
- Glenn Wheat Berries — 5 lbs. $30 / 10 lbs. $56
- Glenn Wheat Flour — 5 lbs. $34
- Streaker Hulless Oat Groats — 5 lbs. $30 / 10 lbs. $56
- Streaker Cold-Rolled Oatmeal — 5 lbs. $34
Hulless oats are especially notable for their nutritional integrity. Unlike most commercially available oats, they require no steaming or processing to remove their hulls, preserving their full, natural nutrient content.
Cold Brook Farm t-shirts, made from 100% organic cotton grown on a small family farm in Texas, will also be available:
- Short sleeve — $20
- Long sleeve — $25
This is an outdoor event. We plan to proceed (light) rain or shine. Please dress appropriately for the weather and farm conditions, including comfortable shoes that can get dirty, sun protection, and water.
The farm is not easily accessible by train or bus. Participants may drive out on their own or request to be part of a carpool. Contact Corey Simoneau, PPMNY’s Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, [corey.simoneau@ppmny.org](mailto:corey.simoneau@ppmny.org) with any questions about carpooling.