Down on the Brock Family Farm

Brock Farms in Freehold remains a popular place for anything "natural." Located at 4189 U.S. Highway 9 North, one can find everything and anything that is needed to create a superior flower or vegetable garden. The employees are knowledgeable and offer the fledging gardener expert advice, separating “The Farm” from chain store establishments. That is because Brock Farmers are people who know how to grow and what to grow in Central New Jersey.

Like so many of outstanding Freehold stores, Brock Farms is a family-owned and -operated business. Ed Sr. and Jean Brock run the company with their son Ed Jr. and daughter, Linda. The elder Block credits the hard work of his entire family and proudly boasts of the hours that are spent working to preserve the  superior quality of their products.

They split their time between their two locations: Freehold and Colts Neck.  Meeting Brock was a real honor. At "soon to be 78" as he mentioned, the senior Brock is hands-on in the business. He knows all that happens on the acres of land that he oversees to make Brock Farms the premier place to buy anything horticultural. 

Ed smiled when he verified his humble beginnings, which involved harvesting and selling blueberries at a roadside stand at the age of eight. His enterprising nature and love of farming and gardening inspired him to remain in the business since that time.

Currently, the family farms 700 acres of land in Freehold, Deerfield, Smithburg, Colts Neck and Bridgeton where their nursery products are grown and cultivated. The Brocks take pride in selling healthy plants that will serve to augment the interior or exterior of any home as well as vegetable/herb seeds or seedlings that provide a summer of sustenance.

The Brock family have been in the business for 60 years. In that time they have continued to study the latest innovations in gardening and utilize the most modern equipment, according to Brock. The store has been expanded to offer many of the tools and accessories that foster garden success. There is a quaint gift shop and a holiday shop at the Freehold location that features unique items.

Brock proudly invites us to the Colts Neck Store where his water gardens have to be seen to be believed. In both locations, ceramic and clay flowerpots and various accessories are available at reasonable prices. You can always get help with the heavy lifting of large items like soil, topsoil and fertilizer.

The Brocks often plan events of interest to the community. Brock Farms at Christmas time is like no other. The family devotes a full acre to the Christmas Holiday. Jean Brock creates beautiful bows, and anything and everything Christmas is sold. Many of the items offer a charming country flavor. 

They also provide training to educate their customers. Just talking to someone on staff can be very beneficial. A customer complained about deer eating their sunflower plants. Brock recommends a product. Another person asked about the best fruit to grow in this area. One suggestion was "blueberries"--not a surprise coming from the former roadside blueberry salesman.

Upon approaching the Route 9 location, one sees the expanse of all the plants, trees and bushes lined up row after row and carefully labeled. The flowers bloom in brilliant colors that please the eye.  No one can just enter and walk out without taking a look, and of cause, spotting something they want to buy.

Brock Farms is the type of place that affords us the comfort to know you can stay there for a while and soak up the atmosphere, as well as the knowledge you need to make your garden grow. Ed Brown Sr. and his family have the desire to give customers "the best in New Jersey," and that sets Brock Farms  apart from the rest.