Second-Generation Farm Prospering in South Windsor

By Vincent Gallo (Special to South Windsor Patch)

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT - Two days away from debuting at the South Windsor Farmer’s Market, Justin and Corrine Bordua walked through their garden located in the back yard of Justin’s parents’ home. The backyard is lined with tobacco plants and houses an expansive greenhouse occupied by tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. Less than a mile down the road is Bordua Farms’ headquarters, and farmland stretching 90 acres to the Connecticut River.

Justin and Corrine, both 25, were married, on the farm, in August 2014. The young couple has been gradually taking on the responsibilities and ownership of Justin’s family farm. Bordua Farms is also in its youth, as it is going on 26 years, not much older than the couple themselves.

Justin’s father, Francis Bordua, entered the demanding, yet fulfilling discipline of farming during the 1980s as a partnership with a friend. After collaborating for almost a decade, he ventured on his own and founded Bordua Farms in 1990. Francis began primarily as a whole sale farmer of tobacco, while eventually incorporating produce throughout the late 1990s. In 2011, Justin joined his father in managing the farm.

The farm entered the retail market and opened a farm stand in 2015. This year, they look forward to becoming involved in the farmers market and CSA. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a way for the community to familiarize with the local farmers and receive produce throughout the summer. To become a member, “shares” must be purchased. Members then receive weekly produce.

Corrine employed these ideas of adding on to the existing tobacco and produce wholesale market.

“I love the farm,” she said. “I think it’s really cool, and I wanted to expand on it. I felt really grateful to have all of the fresh produce, [and] that we needed to share this with the community.”

Although the farm continues to grow, with farming there are always challenges.

“You have to rely on Mother Nature,” Justin explained. “[Weather is] always changing, one day, and one year to the next. Last year we had a wet spring and it was difficult to get things going, this year it’s been dry.”

It can take months to create crops, yet they can be destroyed within five minutes, whether at the hands of a hail storm or hungry groundhogs. Frequent rain can also bring diseases to plants. Selling the produce is not always the easiest project either. “You can grow beautiful produce, but if nobody buys it, it doesn’t matter,” Corrine said.

With the farm going on to only the second generation, the Borduas have encountered new scenarios, and some uncertainty. Handing the farm off to the next generation as well as evolving in different areas of farming is a gradual process for the Borduas.

“It’s a challenge to [learn] how to get into the farmers markets, do the farm stands and do retail when you’ve never done it,” said Justin. “Just on its own, it’s been a lot to learn.”

There is however, great camaraderie among the local farms. According to the Borduas, fellow farmers assist new farms in offering plenty of advice. The Borduas credit Jim and Honora Futtner, who have a vegetable farm stand on Silver Lane in East Hartford, for giving them valuable tips.

“[They’ve] helped us a lot in terms of figuring out how to grow different kinds of vegetables and getting involved in the farmers market,” Justin said.

The Borduas are always looking for ways to improve the farm, yet patience is still the key.

“Corrine’s always coming up with ideas,” said Justin. “I’d say that we’re looking to expand on everything that we do. There’s room for expansion in every aspect.”

Farm animals will also be a part of the growth. Currently, Bordua Farms is raising a single sheep as well as chickens and turkeys. Corrine would love to raise additional animals in the future. “I would love goats, I would love cows, pigs, more turkeys – I want lots of animals,” she said.

Expanding on a farm is an evolution that certainly takes time.

“You have to take one thing at a time in terms of expansion,” Justin said. “It’s like any business, it’s possible to grow too quickly. It’s not like you can put money in today and get money out tomorrow.”

Justin usually begins the day inspecting the livestock before tending to the 90 acres of plants. Year round, Justin and Corrine, along with Justin’s family - his father, his mother Lisa, his brother Nathan and occasionally his sister Kathryn, along with two additional full time employees work the farm. When farming tobacco, Bordua Farms has as many as 20 employees working. Additional work includes planting in the spring, weeding and hoeing in the summer, harvesting in the fall, and planning in the winter.

“I wasn’t always sure that I wanted to do this, but I [would] always come back here to work,” said Justin.

Both Justin and Corrine want to prove to Francis that the inheritance is deserved.

“Both of us want to let Francis know that we love [farming],” said Corrine. “You really do reap what you sow. It’s fun for the two of us. And [we also] get to work with family.”

Visit the Borduas at the South Windsor Farmers Market, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., or at their farm stand, opening in July from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, at 1536 Main Street in South Windsor. Bordua Farms is on Instagram and Facebook, or visit their website at borduafarms.com.