Salt Bridge Farm Podcast

Dustin Wilf Rutgers SEBS Intern

Host Dennis welcomes Saltbridge Farm intern Dustin Wilf for a semester wrap-up conversation about the non-clinical internship program with Bright Harbor Healthcare. Dustin reflects on joining the project from “ground zero,” combining academics, hobbies, and hands-on plant work in Toms River, and enjoying the intern team and video production crew. They discuss aligning interns with their passions, being communicative and “nerdy” about interests, and how the internship strengthened Dustin’s teamwork skills as a sustainability student. Dennis notes interviewing over 100 candidates, thanks Glen and Rebecca, and highlights plans for summer growth, including a documentary, new programs, and interns from multiple universities. Dustin advises future interns to take advantage of the project’s many paths, shares lessons on spreadsheets, breaking big projects into manageable work, and creating documents to “pass the torch,” and they close on staying in touch and returning for a July ribbon cutting.

Dani Vajtay Rutgers SEBS Intern

Dennis hosts Salt Bridge Farm Podcast and interviews intern Dani Vajtay as he finishes his semester, reflecting on hands-on work clearing trees and brush, learning chainsaw safety, and seeing the property’s transformation. They discuss mushroom log inoculation at a volunteer event and plans to grow oyster mushrooms plus varieties like lion’s mane, reishi, and shiitake. Dani shares how the internship inspired him about sustainable greenhouses, aquaponics, and the farm’s potential to feed many people with the right plan, team, and funding. Dennis explains how they pursue grants by staying plugged in through LinkedIn, using tools including AI, researching funders’ language, and creating pitch-style videos like a recent Kubota grant application. They also cover networking, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and advice for future interns to work slowly, deliberately, and find fulfilling roles.

Pat Lewis Shares the Farm’s History

Host Dennis welcomes special guest Pat Lewis, former homeowner of the 1525 blue farmhouse and red barn property, to share the farm’s history and its new chapter. Pat explains the house was built in 1928, how her family bought the small farmhouse after seeing it for sale in 1976, moved in during 1977, added two wings, and raised the roof in 1990 as their family grew. She describes their early commitment to organic gardening, becoming Rutgers-certified to run an organic herb farm, and how friends helped build the barn behind the house. Pat recounts selling the property after being approached through connections involving her daughter Heather and Kim (CEO of Bright Harbor Healthcare), and expresses gratitude that the current project aligns with what her family hoped for. Dennis shares updates on barn repairs, plans for a butterfly garden, produce sales space, workforce skills for young adults, greenhouse restoration, a roadside sourdough “bread shed,” and upcoming events including a July grand opening.

Bob Opitz with Spire Coffeehouse

Dennis hosts the Salt Bridge Farm Podcast with guest Bob Opitz, owner of Spire Coffeehouse, discussing Spire’s origins after he and his wife left corporate careers to build a community-focused business. Bob shares how they opened Spire in December 2022, chose the name and lighthouse-inspired logo, and partnered with roasting company Crimson Cup. They discuss Spire’s involvement with the Toms River Chamber of Commerce, its two locations (Hooper Avenue in Silverton and a grab-and-go Main Street shop), and events like chamber meetups, networking, live music, and community festivals. Dennis announces a partnership where Spire donates used coffee grounds for Salt Bridge Farm to grow culinary mushrooms and then compost, plus a mushroom workshop on Saturday, April 25th, 12–4, at saltbridgefarm.org. They also cover staffing youth, Bright Harbor Healthcare’s programs, and upcoming farm events including “One Night On the Farm.” Spire Coffeehouse: https://www.spirecoffeehouse.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SpireCoffeehouseTR https://www.instagram.com/spirecoffeehousetr One Night on the Farm: https://onenightonthefarm.org/

Rutgers University SEBS with Jack Harris

Host Dennis welcomes Jack Harris, an assistant teaching professor and sustainability program director at Rutgers’ School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), to discuss SEBS as Rutgers’ land-grant unit and its mission to serve New Jersey communities through teaching, research, and extension. They describe how their connection began through grant work and led to placing two Rutgers interns at Salt Bridge Farm to fulfill SEBS’ required experiential learning credits. Jack outlines SEBS history from the Morrill Act and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, plus career paths for students in policy, planning, nonprofits, business, government, law, marine science, biotechnology, environmental and plant sciences, and animal sciences. He shares internship advice focused on clear goals, openness, and adaptability, and they explore expanding collaboration via internships, community-engaged projects, and grants, along with Rutgers’ statewide experiment stations and extension presence.Learn more about the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences here: https://sebs.rutgers.edu/