About
At Marsh Hen Mill food is first. The focus is on providing the best heirloom products and milling the finest grits and cornmeal. What began with a few bags of grits ground on an antique mill has become filling the world with flavor one bag of stone ground goodness at a time.
Who We Are
Greg Johnsman has been milling in his mind for his entire life. As a boy in the upstate he learned the process of milling grits the old-fashioned way from a third-generation miller named Jack Brock. The influence Mr Brock had on Greg’s life is immeasurable and the one of the main reasons that Marsh Hen Mill exists today.
Emmie, our marsh hen mascot, dwells happily in our roadside market.
Greg eventually got older (notice we didn’t say grew up) and made his way to Clemson where he majored in poultry science, because he has always had birds on the brain. After a short stint selling large tires to large farms he came to the low country where he grew and sold vegetables to the fine restaurants in and around Charleston.
When he discovered a 1945 mill and separator in Saluda, SC owned by Lamar Berry took it as a sign to get back into his boyhood hobby of milling. In 2007, with restoration of the equipment complete, milling commenced on weekends and after work and Geechie Boy Mill was born. It wasn’t long before this passion project grew into a thriving business.
When circumstances gave the opportunity to choose a new name for the business Marsh Hen Mill was a natural choice for a business that is nestled in the marsh on a barrier island. The avian imagery brought to mind the feeling of safety as described in the 91st Psalm of being under God’s wing. The unassuming little bird with the distinctive call is a fitting representative for an unassuming little mill nestled on a sleepy sea island.
The goal at Marsh Hen Mill is to bring the best flavor to your table by using tried and true processing techniques that may not be the fastest, but produce the best results. We hope you agree and enjoy the stone ground goodness.