Andy Meddick is no farmer in the dell. Instead, he’s a farmer on Route 9.

If you drove into or out of the area along Route 9 last spring, summer or fall you may have seen farmer Andy plowing, planting, or picking the field. And there’s no North Forty. He has only two thirds of an acre planted, but it’s plenty to keep area restaurants, residents, and other regulars in organically grown peas, carrots, Italian beets and more.

And now, our farmer turned entrepreneur has opened a 3,000 square foot organic grocery store, Good For You Natural Market, on Route 9 four miles west of 5 Points. There, he sells both his produce and a wide array of other organically based products.

Meddick, a Rehoboth resident, came to the farming business in a very roundabout way, but when spotted behind the register at the store or tending to the planting beds it’s clear that he’s doing exactly what he wants to do. Never mind that he traded a career in computers for overalls and farm implements.

Born and raised across the pond in South Wales (and he still has a charming Wales accent) Andy graduated college and set his sights on coming to the United States. He went to work for IBM in the United Kingdom as part of his plan, moved to a New York consulting firm and then wound up, sponsored and with a Green Card, at Marriott Company in the Washington, DC area.

Andy, with his partner of 13 years, Tom McGlone, started vacationing here in Rehoboth, and like many couples, couldn’t shake the lure of a full-time life at the beach. The couple relocated to Rehoboth a couple of years ago.

Tom brought his financial advisor business here with him, but what would Andy do? He knew he needed a new career, but from computer geek to farmer? It wasn’t as big a stretch as it seems.

"I’ve been a vegetarian for 20 years, initially for health reasons, and it got me checking labels on products and I was horrified by all the junk in food—chemicals, preservatives, artificial sweeteners." Andy says.

When Andy and Tom moved to the beach, Andy drove to Baltimore or Annapolis twice a month for organic groceries but the trip got tiresome. He decided to combine his career and vegetarian lifestyle by growing his own organic vegetables and selling them at the Farmers’ Market in Lewes.

After advertising for land and purchasing the convenient acre along Route 9, Andy planted his crops. "I had a great first season," he says, selling to many well-known local chefs and having his peas, spinach and more appear on some of the classiest tables in the area.

"I was selling out of salad greens in my first hour Saturday morning at the Farmers’ Market," he says. This summer, Andy will be selling produce in Lewes again, as well as at the new Farmers’ Market to open in Rehoboth at Grove Park on Tuesday afternoons.

"I’m classified as a micro-eco farmer, which make me sound grander than I am," says Andy, noting that he’s just a blip on the screen at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) which classifies a small farm as 20 acres.

And how did he learn the farming skills necessary for success? Andy admits he honed his farm skills mostly from reading. He perused the internet, got advice from USDA pamphlets and remembered some of the lessons learned back in Wales helping his Dad plant their backyard garden.

Last summer he worked, by himself, 12-13 hours a day, planting, tending and harvesting. "Small farming is very labor intensive, growing produce without chemicals and not using machines," Andy says, but he loves it. For this summer he has hired a helper.

As for the market, it was, well, the natural next step. An opportunity came up to takeover a building that used to be an antique store. The place required almost no renovation and the market took shape pretty quickly. It opened at the end of January.

"My intention is to have a one-stop market for all things organic," Andy says. "There are plenty of good health food stores around, and I want to work with them, help order for them from larger distributors, but this market has a whole line of organic products, everything in one place."

A visit to the spacious and charming market finds all kinds of products—shampoos, household cleaners, soda, juices, of course, produce, and meats as well. "90% of my customers do eat meat, and I run a public store, so I stock it," says Andy, noting that his standards are high. Meat must be from "cruelty free" suppliers, other products cannot have gone through animal testing, and everything must be natural and organic.

The market stocks fair trade, certified organic coffees, soaps and creams that have wonderful natural aromas and even an organic product that can unclog a drain without chemicals.

"When I meet people at the shop and hear their stories, I remember why I am doing this," Andy says. "I’m keen about looking my customers and friends in the eye and telling them ‘This is what you are eating.’ I love this work and it’s much better than a Fortune 500 company. We have no corporate manual, but it works."

So if you drive along Route 9 this summer, and see Farmer Andy working in the field, don’t forget to honk and wave.

"I always wave back," Andy says, "but I won’t know who you are. I can’t wear my glasses while I work because I tend to take them off and lose them in the plants."

Hmmm. The potatoes must take them for their eyes. Or not.

You’ll just have to go by Andy’s micro-mini farm or Good for You Natural Market and check it out.

Good For You Natural Market is open seven days a week and is located at 28841 Lewes-Georgetown Hwy. For information, call 302-684-8330.