Here’s a little bit about us:

Purchasing our home and farm property in 1997 from a developer, our intentions were to keep the property as it had been for the past century. Farmland. It had not been worked in years and we just wanted to enjoy. With the help of the OSU extension, attending classes and participating in the Master Garden program we started what was to be our Hobby farm.

This is the beginning:

We bought a few Black Angus Steer, purchased some chickens, planted the field with hay, pasture grass and of course a garden. Our 3 children joined the 4-H program in our county. They started with raising rabbits. Then turkeys, chickens, and show steers.

This was a whole new ball game for everyone... We lived in the city. We had a beautiful home, lots of acreage, loved the outdoors and always had a nice garden. We were close to everything. Around the corner back home meant 5 minutes, around the corner here, could mean half an hour. It was a change... Ask the kids...

We were on our way. We were learning hands-on each day and it was rewarding. What an adventure! By the following year we were planting sweet corn, pumpkins, gourds and our vegetable garden had grown in size.

We put up a roadside stand because of our abundant crop and started selling our farm fresh produce. This was working out great and the hobby farm was starting to turn into much more.... Work !!!

We became more involved with farming each day and every year we were expanding, trying something new, either new products, varieties or techniques, and we were totally consumed. Our winter free time is spent on anything related to the farm, reading, attending classes, seminars, etc...

To Date:

We have built a market that is open seasonally. We recently installed two hydroponic greenhouses which are really cool. One has strawberries in it and the other large heated greenhouse provides us with produce and greens. This was a real challenge from the conventional way of growing but, what fun!! See hydroponics.

This year we are in the middle of adding 4 high tunnel greenhouses. The weather has not cooperated with us, so they are not completed. We are hoping that this will give us an earlier and extending growing period for some of our crops. Ohio weather has not been so kind and hopefully we will be able to control the rain and warmth a little bit better, being under plastic.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. We now have about 15 head Pure Black Angus cattle. Our cattle are free range, pasture grazed and bred by us. I like having something different in the back pasture, so last year we raised a Texas Longhorn. This year we have Regina– a Buffalo. What a learning experience this has been.

My youngest is still in 4-H, showing steers. She has a couple more years to go and it keeps her busy. Chickens, well lets just say, gathering 5-7 dozen brown eggs a day is plenty of yolk for me.

Around the Farm:

Without the help of my wife and children none of these things would have been possible. We have grown, not only in size, but in many ways. We have learned a lot along this path and we have a greater respect for the farmer, the land and what they do for all of us.

p.s. If you ate a good meal today, thank a farmer !!!

OHIO PROUD!

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email us!