Mountainside Sanctuary: Tweefontein Herb Farm

Hidden on the side of windy, rural roads, sits a quaint farmhouse decorated with geodes and hand-painted signs of deer and plants with the sign “Tweefontein Herb Farm.” Inside the house are rooms of crystals, herbs and tea blends. The aura is inviting and peaceful, the staff friendly and the store safe. Tweefontein Herb Farm is a sort of sanctuary.

Tweefontein, located on 4 Jenkins Rd. in New Paltz, means “two fountains” in Afrikaans. It was opened in 1982 by Anne Salomon. Born in South Africa, Salomon moved to New Paltz after her husband began a teaching position in Black Studies at SUNY New Paltz. Tweefontein started as a farm, selling produce to locals and at New York City farmers markets.

After Salomon passed away in 2003 from cancer, Chris Boelsen moved from California and purchased the land in 2014. He is the current owner of Tweefontein.

“I grew up in New York, and I was longing to come back to New York and start some project,” Boelsen said. “I started looking for places to rent, and I found this farm on Craigslist.”

Boelsen had no prior background in farming. He originally wanted to create an art community but recalled being drawn to the land. The Californian-turned- upstater drove across the country and began living in the farmhouse with 11 roommates.

At first, Boelsen and his roommates did not have a shop. They were mainly focused on doing a bit of farming to make money, but the farm quickly evolved into selling herbal remedies and crystals, growing herbs and making teas and baked goods.

Amidst the closing of many small businesses in the country, especially in New Paltz, it is a great achievement that Tweefontein has survived. Boelsen has credited this feat with his passion for the business and his work ethic.

“It’s been really challenging. I think just because I’m so passionate about it, I’m willing to stick in here,” he said. “I love plants, I love the Earth and I want to be of service to the community.”

Boelsen provides to the community by offering a safe and healing space through his business. Customers say they find sanctuary in Tweefontein, coming to Boelsen over the years and said that Tweefontein has improved their health and state of mind through its herbal and crystal remedies. To Boelsen, this is a form of helping patrons find their empowerment through self-care.

Beyond selling their products, Tweefontein also hosts events. Boelsen and his staff plan to host a women’s circle, an herbalism class and an egg-dyeing class for children in April, but dates are yet to be determined.

“We outsource our empowerment a lot, as a society,” Boelsen said. “I think we have an innate power to take control of our health. That’s really important to me, personally, through my journey in life. Finding my own power and helping others find their own power.”