Our farm venture started 10 years ago with a few sheep, goats, calves and chickens.  The typical "Old McDonald Farm"  In fact that's what my peers thought of me, just an old McDonald farmer wannabe.  After all, to be a "real farmer" you had to have a big operation and lots of debt to go with it.  We had neither.  (Well, maybe the debt part.) 

Around this time many were leaving conventional farming and sustainable ag was the new word around town.  I was already homesteading and very interested.  We started by doing some sidewalk farmer markets.  Our first year was fun but how does one live on $200 per week?  Well, we did.  We didn't spend any money; we grew what we ate and ate what we grew.  We did have to borrow money occasionally for bills and feed purchases.

We soon found that others shared our interest in sustainable agriculture and also were starving.  We decided to form a cooperative.  Since I like to do market so much, I became the market person and my friends consigned me products for market.  Soon we had 6 markets and were very busy.  This attracted a few investors who wanted to make a difference in the community as it related to food and the environment. 

Next we bought this little farm in Holtwood, Pennsylvania and recently purchased the Wills Valley Farm Products.  We love what we do and believe in the products we sell.

As for our factory farming peers, they still think we're crazy wannabe farmers, but when I look at the wasted natural resources, medications, chemicals, pesticides and ethical issues concerning animal confinement as it relates to conventional farming, being labeled crazy isn't all that bad.

If you can find some time, come and visit our crazy old McDonald farm.