A Farm in Search of Land

Threefold Farm is on a search for land.  This year we’ll continue to work our existing 6 acre plot to get the most we can out of it and learn as we go.  Next year we hope to expand by securing an additional piece of ground.

What are we looking for?

God willing, we’re looking to purchase 15+ acres of farmland (or an existing farm) in the Mechanicsburg area to begin planting a u-pick orchard, a small nursery with greenhouses, and have some space left over for a farm stand, chickens, and outbuildings. Our vision is to serve the community through having an accessible, visible place where folks can come to pick good fruit, learn, and take away some plants to grow in their backyards.

How can you help?

That’s where we need you! (yes, you reading this) Do you know of someone with a farm in the Mechanicsburg area who would like to see the land continue to be farmed? If so, we’d love to hear from you!  Use our Contact page or send us a message on our Facebook page.

Week in Pictures 4/6/14

What a week!  Things went from barely alive to almost spring green in an instant.

Morning fog ahead of a warm spring day

Morning fog over the garden

Siberian kale seedlings

Spinach growing like a weed

Raspberries leafing out

Currants leafing out

Peaches about to pop

Apprenticeship @ McCleaf's Orchard

When Kat and I were first considering getting into farming, we faced a major decision about our initial direction.  Do we find some land and jump right in?  Or do we take some time to learn before jumping in?  The former option was attractive at first as we were itching to get started, but I wasn't so sure and Kat didn't have any peace about jumping right in.  After consideration and prayer, we decided that the best course would be for me to start an apprenticeship.

Providence intervened about a month and a half ago when I was put in contact with a local farmer and orchardist who, I found out, was considering hiring extra help for the year. I mentioned that I wanted to learn and could work part-time in order to allow some time to practice what I was learning at home. Win-win. It's amazing how God works and guides us and gives us His grace as we attempt to step out in faith.

For the last four weeks I've been working at McCleaf's Orchard learning a little bit of everything: pruning hardy kiwis, blueberries, apples (semi-dwarf and high density), pounding in posts, working in the greenhouse, fixing up irrigation, and even going to market.  I'm humbled by the amount there is to learn but excited to gain experience every day.

I'll continue to work as an apprentice at least until the end of the growing season and go from there.  In the meantime we'll continue to work to get our property as productive as possible in addition to looking for a larger piece of land from which to run a u-pick operation.  Check out some of the pictures from McCleaf's farm below and stay tuned for more in the coming weeks as the trees start to bloom!

Apples after pruning

Kiwis before pruning.  A mess!

Kiwis after pruning, much better.

Arugula growing in one of the greenhouses

The old barn on the property