Abma's Farm Market and Greenhouses

At Abma’s Farm, family is at the heart of everything we do. For five generations, we’ve shared the love of farming, faith, and community with our neighbors. What began as a small family farm in the 1930s has grown into a place where families make memories- from visiting the Barnyard to picking pumpkins, joining our CSA, or simply stopping by the market for something homegrown.Each season brings new traditions, but one thing remains constant: our deep commitment to faith, family, and the land. Our story starts withBarney Abma, bornApril 25, 1901, in the Netherlands. At just 17 years old, Barney came to America in1917, searching for a fresh start. After spending time out west and in Pennsylvania, he returned home to Holland to marryAnna Vanderzee(born February 18, 1904). In the late 1920s, Barney and Anna settled inWyckoff, New Jersey, at the very spot where Abma’s Farm still stands today. They began working for theYeoman Farm, renting part of the original farmhouse. The land had been in the Yeoman family since the 1800s- originally owned byDaniel Yeoman, and later byMr. and Mrs. George Fox (née Yeoman). In1931, Barney purchased50 acresfrom George Fox for$6,000, officially planting the roots of what would becomeAbma’s Farm. At first, Abma’s Farm was a simple family farm, just enough to sustain Barney and Anna’s household. They raised cows and pigs, grew vegetables, and tended an orchard. During the 1930s, Barney and Anna welcomed five sons:Fred,Sam,William (Willy),Henry (Henny), andJames. The boys grew up working on the farm, milking cows, and helping their parents however they could. As they got older, Fred and Sam branched out into their own landscaping businesses, while Willy, Henny, and James stayed to run the farm. The brothers eventually focused on raising egg-laying hens, and by the 1960s, their flock had grown from 1,000 to25,000 hens!The Dutch-style barn (today’s farm market) became a three-story chicken coop, and eggs were delivered across northern New Jersey on early morning routes. When Barney “retired” (in name only), he began growing flowers — a hobby that would blossom into theeleven greenhouseswe operate today. By the late 1960s and 1970s, egg prices fell while feed costs rose, and the farm had to evolve. The three brothers diversified: James grew vegetables, Willy expanded the greenhouses, and Henny continued egg routes. In1981, James and Judy’s sonJimgraduated fromDelaware Valley Universitywith a degree in horticulture. He took over vegetable production while his father ran the market. Around the same time, Henny moved to Pennsylvania to start his own dairy farm. Jim marriedPam Westrain1985, and they raised three children:Jim Jr.,Josh, andJoy. Though Bergen County was changing rapidly- once full of open fields and barns, now bustling suburbs- the Abma family’s roots stayed strong, grounded in faith and family. In1961, youngest son James marriedJudy Spoelstra. As a wedding gift, Barney and Anna gave them three cows- a true farmer’s start! James and Judy raised four children:Beth,Jim,Jodie, andKim. Their home soon became the hub of a small but busy business. They began sellingeggs and raw milkout of their house on a self-serve basis. As business grew, the operation moved into thecarriage houseof the old barn (now theTomasello Winery Tasting Room), a one-room shop with a cooler for eggs and milk. James even engineered his own“roll-away nest” system, still used today! It allowed eggs to gently roll down into a collection area, saving hours of manual work and keeping the eggs clean and fresh. Jim began a new venture on the property: theCompost Site, where natural materials were transformed into rich, healthy topsoil. Over time, this operation grew to serve homeowners, landscapers, and contractors across the region. Meanwhile, the farm and market continued to grow beyond eggs and milk. Beth ran the craft section, Pam managed the compost office, and Judy oversaw market operations. In1988, Pam started th