Cos Cob is a quaint and charming nautical town on the banks of the Long Island Sound. This close-knit community is deep-rooted in history dating back to the 18th century. Believe it or not, it's also home to some of the first settlers in this area, including the Drenckhahns who were one of the original 27 families of Greenwich. They came here as farmers, barn builders and boot makers to make a living. Cut to present time, David Drenckhahn and his siblings remain a staple in Cos Cob, most commonly known for several local businesses, such as Drenckhahn Boat Basin and Drenckhahn Brothers Land Management. What makes this family so special and unique is how they’ve carried on their ancestor’s legacy beyond cultivating successful businesses. The pride in their heritage and namely the land they settled on back hundreds of years ago is truly remarkable. In fact, as you’re driving down Valley Road and crossing over the Mianus River admiring the view of the water, you likely wouldn’t even realize that you’re also cruising past an enchanted secret garden (my words, not theirs) owned and maintained by David, his brother and David’s dog, Ellie.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the property of 9-10 acres that is set back from the road, but regally sprawled out on the Mianus River and absolutely breathtaking from every angle. The landscape is perfectly manicured and as I walked through the gardens, I was immediately hit with the smell of flowers that mimicked the finest perfume you could possibly imagine. If the award-winning dahlias weren’t enough, you can enjoy the beauty of many other vibrant blooms, like hybrid marigolds and sunflowers. Luckily for me, David cut up a bunch of flowers that I was able to take home and make into a gorgeous bouquet for my kitchen table – something he used to do weekly for his girlfriend Lisa along with a handwritten letter.
Flowers aren’t the only things thriving on the Drenckhahn property. You’ll find rows upon rows of the finest and freshest produce and fruit that David grows all from seed without pesticides, including zucchini, peppers, hot peppers, Swiss chard, turnips, leeks, beans, carrots, kale, corn, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, garlic, pumpkins, apples, blueberries, watermelon and rhubarb, to name a few. And ironically enough, with all these incredible crops outside his door, David doesn’t cook – but he has lots of friends who jar and can what he grows. He thinks of himself as the “lumberyard” (he has the raw products) and will tell people how to cook, not necessarily do it himself. David loves a vegetable broth and hardly ever eats red meat. His diet really consists of lots of vegetables, which makes sense given he has access to the best of the best right at his fingerprints. He also hardly ever waters the gardens and shared, “people constantly overwater, you have to think – you want the root to go deep and when you water, it comes up.” Maybe now we all know what we’ve been wrong all these years!
Taking care of the crops and land is a year-round job and David loves it all, just like he loves the different seasons that New England has to offer. He will start buying what he needs in November and December and gets started as early as February when the peppers go in. Next up, David will gather up all of his apples for a neighbor to make homemade applesauce and apple cider.
The entire experience of visiting the property was magical, but getting to know a man as humble and kind as David was priceless. I personally feel like part of the family having come home with bags upon bags of fresh produce and flowers – all at no cost. David is so giving and puts the work in to ensure the property is not only well-maintained but harvesting food for people he knows to enjoy and expects nothing in return. I made sure to do right by him and used all that was given to me until it was completely gone. I even have some new recipes from David to try, and once I perfect them, I will be sure to return the favor by dropping off a few dishes to his doorstep.
A very special thank you to the Drenckhahn family, namely David, Bobbie, Alan, Craig and Ellie for allowing us the opportunity to tour the property and enjoy everything it offers. In memory of Lisa.