David Griffiths

David Craig Griffiths, 65, passed away peacefully on November 6th, 2020 in Phoenixville, PA. Born in 1955 to the former Mary Jane Shaw and Thomas Vincent Griffiths of Delaware County PA, David and his family lived in Broomall, PA; Groves, TX; Stamford, CT; and Palos Verdes Estates, CA, where he learned to surf and graduated from high school. David fell in love with agriculture on the sea-side campus of UC Santa Cruz, and dedicated his life to being a steward of the land. In 1979, he went to Emerson College in Sussex England to study biodynamic agriculture – a form of organic farming drawn from Rudolf Steiner's philosophy of the farm as an integrated, whole, living organism. It was at Emerson that he first met his future wife, Edie Bergeson. David returned to the U.S. to study soil science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he graduated first in his class, and in 1983, found himself apprenticing at Hawthorne Valley Farm where Edie was already working. In 1984, the two were married in the small town of Ghent, NY. They welcomed a daughter, Johanna, before moving to the beautiful rolling hills of Chester County, PA where they had a son, Ben, and started Seven Stars Farm. Together, they built a successful yogurt business and in the process, a loyal customer base across the United States. David spent 14 years milking cows, planting and harvesting crops, and fixing tractors, before a tragic farming accident in 2000 left him quadriplegic. Over the next 20 years, David overcame his injury by focusing on raising his children and managing the business side of the farm. He was beloved for his wealth of knowledge, caustic wit, charm, and ability to tell a good story. He loved to research and dream up complex recipes, and then cajole people into cooking them for him. He found joy in going to a Phillies game, a sunny day at Longwood Gardens, and watching the birds congregate at the feeder outside his window. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Edie Griffiths, his two children: Johanna Griffiths and husband Stephen O'Connell of Boston, MA; Benjamin Griffiths and fianc?e Taylor Green of Jersey City, NJ; one grandchild, Keegan O'Connell; two siblings: Bruce Vincent Griffiths of Brooklyn, NY; Jo Anne Gordon and husband Dudley Gordon of Harrisburg, PA, many nieces and nephews, and his loyal dog Jack. David's life was greatly enhanced by the help he received from his longtime caregivers Rowena Kramer, Tina Harner, Holly Sellers and Christa Godillot. Their loving care and friendship supported him in mind, body, and spirit through these many years. A celebration of David's life will be held at a date and time to be determined. Donations in David's memory can be made to: Kimberton Waldorf School: https://www.kimberton.org/support/ Magee Rehabilitation: https://mageerehab.jeffersonhealth.org/get-involved/fundraising-events/ Natural Lands: https://natlands.org/support/donate/"

David Griffiths

May 7, 1955 - November 6, 2020