Farm History

The founders of Pohja Strawberry Farm were Eva & Eero Pohja.  Eva & Eero were born in Finland and had immigrated separately to Canada in the late 1920’s.  They met through a Finnish social club in Montreal, Canada.  They worked as a cook and butler combination for many years, eventually working for Captain White of the British Naval Attaché in Washington, D.C. Captain White assisted Eva & Eero with obtaining their United States Green Cards which started them on their path to US citizenship.  Eva & Eero eventually settled in Templeton, MA due in part to the availability of manufacturing jobs in the area and Eero’s cousin living in Hubbardston, MA.

In 1948 Eva & Eero bought the farm land partially due to the abundance of water on the property and high fertility of the soil.  At one time the property had produced apples and raised sheep.

In 1953 Eva & Eero started the Pohja Strawberry Farm, adding highbush blueberries and peaches in the early to mid 1980’s.[i] 

In the early 1990’s Eero passed the farm to his daughter, Barbara Goodwin who with her husband Hal, continued to grow highbush blueberries for many years.  Barbara has now passed the farm to the next two generations: her daughter, Elizabeth “Cricket” Toth and grandson James Toth.  In 2017, the mother & son team have created Pohja Farms, LLC. 

Farm History of Land Stewardship – Sustainability

Before it was “the in thing to do”, Eva & Eero Pohja received the first Outstanding Conservation of Soil and Water Award from the Northwest Worcester County Conservation District.

With the support of the entire family, Liz & James are very pleased to continue the tradition of sustainability and stewardship of the land which began over 65 years ago.   Our goal is to grow in a sustainable manner working with nature and not against it. Our plans are to continue to grow highbush blueberries, adding other fruits and vegetables over time.

Family Community Involvement

Eva began the family legacy of community involvement by being a member of the Narragansett Regional High School Building Planning Committee, the Templeton Conservation Commission and the Templeton Planning Board. 

Hal Goodwin (Barbara’s husband) has also been involved in the community when he was for four years Chair of the Templeton School Committee. 

Timothy Toth (Liz’s husband & James’ dad) has been very involved in the community with his years on the Templeton Rescue Squad, and now on the Templeton Fire Department as a paramedic, and his many years of volunteering in district and unit level leadership roles within the Boy Scouts of America. 

Liz continues the tradition in the family with her community involvement as a former member of the Templeton Advisory Board and 12+ years volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America.

[i] “Eva Anna Pohja Obituary.” The Gardner News, 18 Feb. 1989.

 [ii] Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy