Farmer John Augustin, 81

John Augustin, 81, known to many as Farmer John of Augustine’s Farm, passed away after a fall the day before Thanksgiving.

Farmer John, a lifelong Greenwich resident, has run Augustine’s Farm with his wife Kathy for decades, since taking over the King Street business his parents founded back in 1952.

The couple, together 53 years, have been a fixture at their seasonal farm stand, operating all summer with produce including their famous corn, pumpkins in October and Christmas trees and handmade wreaths in December.

Many will remember that in 2006 John lost his leg in a freak accident with his tractor that resulted in great discomfort, millions of dollars in medical bills and an outpouring of community support. Ultimately John was fitted with a prosthetic limb, and he was not to be stopped. After re-learning to walk on his prosthetic leg, he persevered, climbing back on the tractor every spring and spending winters with Kathy pouring over seed catalogs and spoiling their pets including cats, a pet chicken and more recently, his beloved dog, Andy. Like Kathy, John was a friend to all animals, including the wildlife who pass through their fields, some making themselves permanent residents.

In a 2011 interview with this reporter, Farmer John referred to Kathy as, “My farmerette,” and “the love of my life,” describing their start as a young couple as sort of a ‘reverse Green Acres,’ with her taking to farm life quickly and having a knack for growing just about anything.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.