Behind the Business: Eric Stoffer

Eric Stoffer didn’t set out to become a farmer.

As he puts it, the Lakewood resident and co-owner of Bay Branch Farm just got fed up with the way food is produced.

“Our food system is broken,” Stoffer said. “When I think about growing food for people in my community, I get a real sense of purpose out of that — something very worthwhile.”

He and his wife, Annabel Khouri, launched an urban market garden in the backyard of a home they own on Lark Avenue in 2009.

The following February, they bought the vacant property next door.

At his 9-to-5 gig, Stoffer works at in Westlake as a programmer.

But his true passion is tending to the 5,300 square feet of backyard garden space, lined with a couple dozen raised beds.

They grow and sell all kinds of vegetables.

Here are a few: Arugula, lettuces, spinach, beets, kale, Swiss chard, carrots and garlic.

Get all that?

Stoffer — who turns 44 this week — sells the goods to area restaurants and never misses a night at the events during the summer.

He said Bay Branch Farm is looking to expand its operations.

“We want to be a farm in Lakewood, but we want more land,” Stoffer said. “We’re open to any options.”

Lakewood Patch took a few minutes to get to know Stoffer a little better. Our take on the Proust Questionnaire, crafted by French writer Marcel Proust, seems like a perfect fit.

What’s your favorite place to eat in Lakewood: . That’s my favorite right now. It’d be easy to say “” but I can never get a table. is a really, really close second.

Favorite place to spend time relaxing: . It’s such an asset.

Favorite qualities in a man: Loyalty. If I called at anytime, and anyplace, they would help me — because that’s what I would do for them.

Favorite qualities in a woman: Minimal drama.

Your chief characteristic: Sarcastic humor.

Favorite characteristic in friends: Good listeners.

Your main fault: Self-centered anxiety.

Your idea of happiness: It’d be easy to say on a beach in the Caribbean. Seriously though, a quiet night, holding my wife.

If not yourself, who would you be: I always wanted to be Jim Morrison. Maybe my friend, Mike Roth. But nobody knows who he is. He’s got really nice hair.

If not Lakewood, where would you like to live: A farm in the rolling hills of central Virginia, but I don’t want to put up with the rednecks and hillbillies. If I could combine Virginia with St. Martin that would be great.

Favorite artist: Frank Lloyd Wright.

Favorite heroes in real life: Noam Chomsky.

Favorite food, favorite drink: Two-shot macchiato and water. I could live on those two beverages for the rest of my life. Favorite food? Big fat, grass-fed Porterhouse.

Military event I admire the most: The whole Gandhi thing. That’s my favorite.

The natural talent I’d like to be gifted with: I don’t believe people have natural talent, but if I could, I wished I had natural talent at playing guitar. Then I wanted have to work so hard at it.

How I wish to die: As painlessly as possible. Preferably in my sleep.

What is your present state of mind: Generally confused.