Greg Bohlen, Founder of Union Grove Farm: Portrait of Greg Bohlen, visionary founder of Union Grove Farm, who put sustainable agriculture in action.

Greg Bohlen, Union Grove Founder and CEO

Greg Bohlen is Co-founder and Managing General Partner of Union Grove Venture Partners (UGVP). Throughout Greg’s 30 years in banking and venture capital, he has invested in over 60 venture-backed companies and successfully taken 24 companies public. UGVP was selected by the Dow Jones as the #1 global private fund-of funds in 2022. Greg returned to his farming roots in 2015 to start Union Grove Farm and follow his passion for eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives, focusing on food as medicine. Greg is also a published author, a volunteer fireman and on the board of the Orange Grove Fire Department.  He lives in Chapel Hill, NC on the family farm built with his three sons over the past two decades.

 
Martin Crompton, Vineyard & Project Director: Portrait of Martin Crompton, the dedicated vineyard and project director at Union Grove Farm, overlooking the thriving vineyards and sustainable agricultural practices.

Martin Crompton, Vineyard and Project Director

Martin has over 25 years of experience working as a development leader and consultant in the USA, Europe, and Central America. He has provided strategic leadership and direction on innovative and market disruptive initiatives across over a dozen different industry platforms. Over the past several years, his focus has pivoted to sustainability, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. Martin joined Union Grove four years and ago and connects our operation to some of the leading players and solution providers in the regenerative farming movement in the USA.  In addition to his work at Union Grove, he serves on the NC Wine and Grape Council and the NC Muscadine Growers Association board.

 
Dane Jensen, Passionate Farmer at Union Grove: Capturing Dane Jensen, a dedicated farmer, tending to the bountiful muscadine grape vines and embracing regenerative agriculture at Union Grove Farm

Dane Jensen, Farmer

Dane Jensen grew up in San Deigo, California and has been working in agriculture for over a decade. Prior to joining Union Grove, he worked as a shepherd at Tablas Creek Vineyard, one of the first certified regenerative wineries. Dane is passionate about holistic grazing management and is spearheading our 2023 initiative to integrate sheep into our vineyards. He currently resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with his two young daughters and his sheepdog, Sophie.

 
Dr. Laura Kavanaugh, Director of Vine and Soil Health: An image of Dr. Laura Kavanaugh, the esteemed Director of Vine and Soil Health and the Regenerative Agriculture Center at Union Grove Farm, passionately overseeing sustainable practices amidst th

Dr. Laura Kavanaugh, Director of Vine and Soil Health, Director of Regenerative Agriculture Center

Laura received her PhD from Duke's University Program in Genetics and Genomics and has worked in the Biotechnology Industry for over 10 years.  Prior to earning her doctorate, she worked as a Guidance, Navigation and Control Officer for over 40 Space Shuttle missions in the Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.  She is fascinated by soil microbes and the role they play in soil, plant, and human health.  At Union Grove Farm, she optimizes the vineyard soil fertility to maximize grape production and grape nutrient density. By combining the latest DNA sequencing techniques with windrowing, vermicomposting, and more, Laura helps us produce the highest quality compost.  

 
Collin Mallet, Livestock and Compost Specialist: A portrait of Collin Mallet, the dedicated Livestock and Compost Specialist at Union Grove Farm, caring for the farm's animals and managing the regenerative composting process.

Collin Mallet, Livestock and Compost Specialist

Collin grew up in Hillsborough, North Carolina and has been working summers on the farm since 2018 while he attended school.  In 2022 he graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Sustainable Technology with a focus in sustainable agriculture. He is passionate about sustainability in agriculture and will be assisting both Dane and Laura with composting and livestock management. Collin now lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and is exited to get his boots on the ground at UGF.

 
Roger Nutter, Diligent Farmer at Union Grove: Capturing Roger Nutter, the hardworking farmer at Union Grove Farm, tending to the fields and nurturing sustainable agricultural practices with expertise and care.

Roger Nutter, Farmer

Roger was born in Maine. In 1963, his father and grandfather moved their farm in Maine to Hillsborough, North Carolina. The milder climate and longer growing season was much more suitable in NC. He farmed till the age of 22 then went into the construction business. In 1996, he and his sister Muffin started Maple View Milk Co. The farm became a local legend producing and selling milk, butter and ice cream. In 2021, he decided to go in another direction and sold the farm to Greg Bohlen of Union Grove Farm. In 2022, he and Greg Bohlen partnered up, and with other local leaders, are starting Union Grove Farm Distillery to make the farm a new kind of local legend.