Historic mint farm remains in family’s hands

After a nearly three-year struggle, owners of the Crosby Mint Farm were able to purchase back most of their historic farm from Greenstone Farm Credit Services, the bank that seized the farm on Aug. 28 from farmers Peppermint Jim Crosby and Linette Crosby. The Crosby siblings endured foreclosure, attacks on their Web site, a sheriff’s sale, eviction and an auction of their farm before finally getting their farm back.

The 140-acre Crosby Mint Farm is the oldest continuously running mint farm in the United States and is located in the rural community of St. Johns, Mich., 20 miles north of Lansing, the state capital. Known as “Mint City USA,” the St. Johns area once had 60 farms, but only four remain today. In operation since 1912, the Crosby Mint Farm was established by Jim and Linette’s great-grandfather. Today, the farm is operated on a 100 percent organic basis with no pesticides, fungicides or herbicides.

The Mint Farm’s troubles began in 2006. At that time, the Crosbys had four loans outstanding with Greenstone FCS, which were backed by the Farm Service Agency, a government agency similar to the Federal Housing Administration. When the annual payment for one loan was late, the bank called in all four loans, forcing the farm into “restructuring” through Chapter 12 bankruptcy.

Greenstone FCS convinced the judge to freeze the farm’s cash, which, according to Peppermint Jim, “meant that 100 percent of all farm revenue went to the bank, nothing to live on, pay light and heating bills, or buy bottle inventory (for mint oil sales) to keep and maintain our customers.”

The fightback begins

The Crosbys began to defend their farm. According to Peppermint Jim: “For three weeks I stayed up round the clock, always having my sister or me on the farm in case the bank came in before we could file for protection. We had gated up the farm with large telephone poles creating only one point of entry, since our attorney had worked against these same folks in the past and knew what they were able to do. In that particular case they had repossessed the farmer’s equipment during the negotiations and he had to pay to get his equipment back. We pulled keys, disconnected batteries, posted signs and set up a tight perimeter with a clear view of both entrances with the back somewhat protected by a large ditch every night.”

Meanwhile, Linette Crosby began exploring ways to find support. Her son advised that she “go grassroots — deep grassroots. Stay away from the politicians.” Interviews on radio and TV shows were arranged. The Mint Farm story appeared in newspapers and magazines around the U.S. Public support grew.

In early 2008, Linette attended a Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions, and Utility Shutoffs meeting in Detroit to explain the situation and get support. In August 2008, coalition organizers went to the farm to help with outreach at the Annual Mint Parade in St. Johns. Organizers arrived the night before and camped out on the farm. A month later Linette spoke at a statewide rally in Lansing in support of the demand for a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions.

The sheriff’s sale took place on Aug. 14, 2008. The Crosby Farm continued to press forward, drawing increased interest and attention from around the country. A Web site, getmint.com, was established to generate mint oil sales, crucial to raising funds to pay off the bank. The site was attacked several times by an unknown party, hampering sales considerably.

With the eviction imminent in August 2009, local supporters stepped up the struggle. The Mint Jam, a benefit music festival, was held on the farm. For two weeks prior to the eviction, daily protests were held in front of the St. Johns office of Greenstone FCS. The Moratorium NOW! Coalition was invited to attend the protest before the Mint Jam. A press release was issued stating that supporters from Detroit would be arriving, which caused Greenstone FCS to shut down its local office for the day.

When the eviction took place on Aug. 28, over 75 supporters arrived at the Mint Farm to help the Crosbys move. A caravan of 25 vehicles carried their possessions to a temporary home offered for free for the first month by another supporter.

Mint Farm returned

An auction took place in December where the farm was split into a 100- and a 40-acre parcel and bids from other people were accepted by the bank. The Crosbys’ bid, submitted in September and rejected by Greenstone FCS, was higher. By law, the Crosby Farm had “the right of first refusal” to purchase both parcels. Another farmer stepped forward to purchase the 100-acre parcel, with all of the buildings, on behalf of the Crosby Farm, and on Feb. 5 the farm reverted back to the Crosbys’ control.

A press release stated: “The brother and sister extend a message of gratitude out to all the supporters, friends, customers and family. ... This experience has changed our lives forever. It has confirmed our belief in the power of community.”

During the closing process, a lawyer jokingly asked, “You’re not going to have picketers outside are you?” in obvious recognition of the effect that the mass struggle had in winning back the farm.