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In the background, behind his turquoise store, stood two large greenhouses where he grew his flowers and veggies.
Visitors would line up on weekends for his banana and pumpkin donuts, and heck, life was good.
Then came Hurricane Irene, super Storms Sandy and Irene, and 33 inches of snow of multiple blizzards. His father passed away on the morning of Hurricane Irene. His mother passed away the following Spring, and now he has a sibling suffering from stomach cancer. Oh, and his truck broke down so he can't deliver his wood.
It seemed to Joe the Grower that Doomsday had come his way.
He tried to get help from both the federal and state governments but hasn't seen anything yet. He took out high-interest loans to keep the farm. He sold the farm to a friend who he has to pay back at a stiff interest rate.
"I just want to save the farm," he said. "I lost everything I had worked so tirelessly build for the last 18 years."
Don't think he feels sorry for himself, he doesn't. He's just asking for a little help through a GoFundMe page to help him get on his feet and rebuild his greenhouses to get his flowers and tomatoes growing again.
So far, he has raised about $1,700 of the $10,000 he needs.
"I just want to create a place for the community to come and have a good, locally grown product raised right here by a local farmer who has dedicated his heart to giving people what they deserve," Joe the Grower said.
Visitors are welcome to visit his torn-apart farm at 1127 Route 216 in Poughquag. Click here to visit the GoFundMe page.
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