A farmer’s life certainly isn’t for everyone, but there’s no doubt that it’s a dream come true for Camille and Devin Abdel-Nabi.

The couple, who met on a dating app seven years ago and got married right before the pandemic shut down the world in January of 2020, are living their best life together in a place familiar and dear to many Warrenite’s hearts — the historic farm at 39 Long Lane.

“We had actually been here on a date many years ago and went downtown and really loved the town and then we kind of forgot about it for a while,” explained Devin in a recent interview. “Then this property popped up and it all kind of felt meant to be, and thankfully it all came together.”

The property has a rich history of farming going back nearly 100 years, with many Warren residents retaining fond memories of their youth going to the farm stand that long operated on its premises, purchasing raspberries and corn and whatever else was fresh that day.

Camille and Bob Payne had been co-owners of Little River Farm with in Exeter since 2013, specializing in no-till farming, which prioritizes the health of the soil and reducing the impact on the environment from farming activity. The farm grew steadily, and following her marriage to Devin, the decision to expand and secure another farm property became necessary.

That’s when they came across the Long Lane property, and the stars aligned.

“The previous owners had multiple offers from developers who wanted to divide and build on the lot,” the couple explained in a Facebook post from January of this year. “The loan process for a farmer is long and difficult and most sellers don't want to wait on us. So we wrote the previous owners a heartfelt letter asking them to wait for us to figure things out. We tried to pull on their heart strings by talking about how we would continue it as a family farm where our kids could run around, just like they had. It worked, and even brought the previous owner to tears. With some help from our families, we became the owners of this beautiful and special property. Our dream really did come true.”

Throughout the next couple of years, they began selling produce from Little River Farm while getting the new operation up and running. They built a greenhouse, secured a LASA grant in February of this year, and officially parted ways with Little River Farm in January (which continues to run independently under Payne). In the spring of 2022, they put their first crops into the ground at the newly-dubbed Long Lane Farm.

The couple knew right away that they would want to utilize the historic farm stand that still stood; a relic of the land’s past and the keeper of many local memories among neighbors. With a deep cleaning and a fresh coat of paint, they revived the stand and now have a hard time keeping produce on the shelves.

In addition to being a no-till operation, Camille and Devin prioritize an all-organic approach free of pesticides and utilizing as little plastic material as possible. They utilize a community supported agriculture (CSA) model where members can receive a weekly batch of a variety of fresh produce through pickup or deliver for three months of the year. Customers can also browse the farm stand or take part in annual plant sales.

The farm specializes in over 15 varieties of micro greens, in addition to the traditional squash, tomatoes, onions, and salad greens necessary for any fresh meal.

Browsing their Facebook page, a reoccurring comment throughout their many posts chronicling the farm’s operations can be seen.

“Thank you for keeping this land as a farm.”

The farm stand is open year-round from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. To find out more about their offerings and to sign up for their CSA, go to LongLaneFarmRI.com.