Life Imitating Art: Two Yale Grads Leave Law for Farming

Green acres is the place to be; Farm living is the life for me;
Land spreading out, so far and wide; Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside.

Some readers may be old enough to remember that theme song from the 1960’s TV sitcom, “Green Acres,” starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor. Albert played New York-attorney-turned-farmer Oliver Wendell Douglas, who grows tired of the "rat race," and much to the chagrin of his socialite wife Lisa, decides to leave his Park Avenue lifestyle and pursue agricultural endeavors by buying a farm outside a community of country bumpkins called Hooterville.

Well, life has a habit of imitating art, and TV buffs will be pleased to know we've discovered our own real, live "Green Acres" couple -- Peter and Maryellen Griffin of South Peacham, Vermont. Both natives of the Northeast, Peter met Maryellen while they both studied law at Yale University. After graduating in 1996, the couple moved to Minnesota where each worked for law firms. However, after circumstances drove them back to New England, the Griffins left law to pursue their shared lifelong dream of being organic vegetable farmers.

Eager to chronicle their efforts, the Griffins launched a blog -- Down on the Farm -- in which they share their experiences planting, harvesting and marketing organic vegetables (they also share recipes and provide tutorials on the operation of farm equipment). It is quite interesting reading; the blog gets about 200 to 300 visitors a day, according to Peter. For those lawyers longing to live the rural lifestyle, at least vicariously, check it out.