BY MATT LINDSEYNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM — Martin’s Farmstand is in the process of being sold as the Greenwood family of Richville look to plant their roots at 11 Needham Road.

Daniel Martin, who has owned and operated the business since the 1990s, is looking for a change of pace as he transfers into a different phase of life.

Martin will stay on to assist at the farm for the indefinite future, he said.

Matthew Greenwood, his wife Desiree and their five children will learn the ropes of the trade from the Martin family.

“I will be teaching him everything,” Martin said.

Mr. Greenwood has been the Martin Farmstand manager since 2020, so he has a good grasp about the busy life he is about to take on.

The Greenwoods are becoming permanent fixtures at the farm this summer.

The market property sits on 4.4 acres, with an adjoining 16.9 acres that the Martin family lives on.

He started the farm in his 30s, and the now 52-year old would like to free up some time.

“We found ourselves having to say no to social events, vacations and friends … because we were tied down to the farm,” he said.

Martin has children ranging from 7 to 20 years old, and although none are interested in running the farm, they learned life skills that will guide them through their lives.

He said his children are “capable of most anything” as they are now pursuing careers from beekeeping to mechanical work. All skills learned at the farm.

Those skills learned and conversations with community members have resulted in Martin considering life coaching.

“Some things are real simple,” Martin said. “If life doesn’t have structure, it doesn’t matter how you are growing those tomatoes.”

He wants to help people with their thinking, providing guidance.

Mr. Martin believes in time he and his family will likely move off the property as he pursues new ventures.

“Retiring doesn't mean doing nothing … I want to do things that fascinate me,” he said.

“We’ve lived and breathed produce morning and night,” Martin said.

However, he cannot change what brought him this far.

“I will always be a farmer, that’s who I am,” he said.

For now, Martin is looking forward to a potential long weekend camping trip with family when time allows.

As the farmstand grows with the Greenwoods, farm-to-table and educational events are all under consideration.

Both families will be working together to run the farm, along with the help of some workers this summer.

It is expected that the name will shift to Martin’s Farmstand at Greenwood Acres.