Earthman Farm: Honoring the Past, Planning for the Future
On January 13, we lost Dennis Iulo—a father, grandfather, and the heart behind Earthman Farm. In the weeks since, we’ve reflected on the place he built, the memories made here, and what comes next.
Some places are just land. And then there are places that hold memories, hard work, and second chances—places that become part of who we are.
For our family, Earthman Farm has always been one of those places, and for over a decade, it stood in the heart of Vernon, New Jersey—a town we love, in a county filled with history, community, and resilience.
Dennis: A Father, A Grandfather, A Dreamer
When Dennis bought Earthman Farm, he wasn’t just buying land. He was rebuilding.
Dennis had spent his whole life working—first as a lawyer, then as a father who never stopped providing for his daughters, Claudia and Elizabeth.
But life wasn’t always easy.
In the 1980s, financial struggles turned his world upside down. Claudia and Liz were just little girls when they lost their home in Ringwood, New Jersey. They spent years moving from place to place, staying with family, living in apartments—never knowing what stability felt like.
For Claudia and Liz, it was the hardest time of their lives.
By the late 1990s, the weight of it all became too much—their parents’ marriage collapsed under financial stress.
Through it all, Dennis never stopped fighting. He never stopped working. Even in his late 70s, he never had the luxury of retirement.
Then, in 2009, his mother (our Nana) passed away.
With his inheritance, Dennis saw a chance to rebuild everything he had lost—not just for himself, but for his daughters, his grandchildren, and the future.
That’s when he bought Earthman Farm—the Drew farmhouse, one of Vernon’s oldest homesteads.
For the first time in years, he had land, a home, and a vision for the future.
👧👦 A New Generation: Adriana, Preston & The Farm That Raised Them
Dennis built Earthman Farm with his daughters in mind, but before long, a new generation would make it their home.
For nearly seven years, his grandchildren—Adriana and Preston—grew up here.
Adriana had her first birthday in the Drew farmhouse. The kitchen smelled like cake, laughter filled the air, and outside, the farm stretched out under the wide blue sky—her first home, the place where she would grow up.
Preston loved nothing more than spending time with Grandpa in the garden. Mornings meant boots on, hands in the soil, listening as Dennis talked about how to grow food, care for the land, and respect nature. It was their thing.
And then came the best days—when their cousins, Brandon and Connor, came to visit.
Four kids, running through the fields. Climbing trees. Picking vegetables. Helping Grandpa with projects around the farm. This was childhood the way it was meant to be—wild, free, and full of adventure.
For Dennis, this was everything.
Earthman Farm became more than just a home. It was a place where his daughters could find stability, where his grandkids could learn and grow, where memories could be made for generations to come.
A Home, A Family’s History, A New Chapter Ahead
For Dennis, Earthman Farm was never just land. It was a home. A sanctuary. A place where family could always find each other.
- It was the place where:
Claudia and Elizabeth finally had a home to return to after years of instability.
Adriana and Preston grew up surrounded by love and nature.
Brandon and Connor found adventure every time they came to visit.
Over time, Earthman Farm became a space where Dennis welcomed people from different walks of life. Whether through farming, music, or community gatherings, he opened the doors to many—but the farm was always privately owned, a part of our family’s story.
Dennis made it clear that while the community was welcomed, the land itself was never a public or community-owned property.
As we look ahead, our family is ensuring that Earthman Farm moves into its next chapter in a way that reflects its true history.
The farm’s legacy isn’t just in its land—it’s in the family, the history, and the stories that will always be a part of it.
Vernon & Sussex County: A Land We Love
Vernon, New Jersey, is more than just a place on a map—it’s a town with a deep history, a strong community, and families who respect hard work, tradition, and the land itself.
Dennis loved Vernon. He loved the seasons changing across Sussex County’s rolling hills, the way the farmland stretched beneath the sky, and the people who shared his appreciation for hard work and independence.
That’s why, when he bought Earthman Farm, he put his heart into it.
He made it clear that while the community was welcomed, the land itself was never a public or community-owned property.
Looking Ahead
As we look ahead, our family is ensuring that Earthman Farm moves into its next chapter in a way that reflects its true history and honors everything Dennis built.
The farm’s legacy isn’t just in its land—it’s in the family, the history, and the stories that will always be a part of it.