From Ponies to Produce: The Transformation of Heeler Farms

In the rolling hills of Pine Plains, the former Circle G Ranch has undergone a significant transformation. The former 65-acre horse-boarding facility at 2054 Route 83 has gradually become a produce farm. Last year, two acres were in active agricultural production; this year, there are 10. 

Completed last winter, Heeler Farms‘ farmstand showcases the hard work and dedication of its owner, Michael Carone, who purchased the property in 2019. Stocked daily with cold crops and starter plants as the harvest comes in, it is open 24/7, operates on the honor system and offers a variety of fresh options for the community.

Blue and Diesel, two Blue Heelers for which the farm was named, serve as the farm’s unconventional scarecrows. “Let’s go, dogs!” Carone shouted, jumping into his four wheel utility vehicle with a whistle, as the dogs, previously occupied with chasing away anything that moved, jumped on board.

“We grow a little bit of everything,” he said, listing pumpkins, several varieties of tomatoes, squash, peppers, watermelon, zucchini and corn among his crops. The farm also boasts imported San Marzano tomatoes from Italy. “They’re not hybrids; they’re the real thing,” he said.

The farm’s history is deeply rooted in family tradition. Michael’s father, Saverio Carone, who emigrated from Italy to Astoria, Queens, in 1957, taught him the importance of knowing the source of what he eats. “My dad, who is 89, is in better shape than I am. He doesn’t eat out because he doesn’t know where the food comes from,” Carone said. Carone and his wife, Mary, source most of their own food right from their farm.

Carone has a long history of hands-on work. Growing up, he would spend his summers on his uncle’s farm outside of Toronto. After graduating high school in Queens he established an electric company in Manhattan, Roma Electric. Today, he is a full-time farmer. He hopes his son, Saverio, will take over operations when the time comes, continuing the family tradition of hard work and dedication to the land.

Carone emphasizes a natural approach to agriculture. “We’re not organic because we’re not certified organic,” he said. “With organic, you can use organic pesticides and fertilizers. We just do it naturally. We use horse manure for fertilizer and try to do companion planting to avoid the use of insecticides.” This method, coupled with natural composting, has proven effective. “The soil report came back great,” Carone said. “It’s less expensive to be natural”.

Heeler Farms also has three greenhouses, which Carone built himself. Insulated and equipped with wood-burning stoves, they are used for starting seedlings and growing a variety of produce, including fennel, broccoli, cauliflower and kale. A sophisticated rainwater storage system supports the farm, with underground piping throughout the property to maximize efficiency. “The terrain is not the best,” Carone said but active terraforming, including the digging of a pond to mitigate flooding, and removal of rocks has helped optimize the land for agricultural use. 

Oscar Verga, who emigrated from Baja, Mexico, to California and worked as a farmer, moved to Pine Plains 20 years ago and now manages operations at the farm. “It’s finally starting to materialize,” he said, noting that they’ve been in the process of developing the farm for the last three years.

Last year, Heeler Farms produced 10,000 pounds of produce. While it sold about 2,000 pounds and donated another 2,000 to a church in Milan, the rest was either consumed by the family or fed to its animals. Despite the challenges, the farm continues to grow, fueled by Carone’s personal investment.

The farmstand currently caters to seasonal produce, but there are hopes to extend operations year-round. As Heeler Farms continues to evolve, Carone wants to scale up, thoughtfully, and remain dedicated to natural production methods.

“That’s our goal: to be as eco-friendly as possible,” Carone said. “That’s how Mother Nature wants it.”