Cradled by the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and nestled between North Mountain and the Blue Ridge, Jefferson County is the garden of West Virginia. Over 300 farms operate in this valley of fertile soil and produce a diversity of items … fruit, vegetables, horses, dairy, beef, hogs, chickens, sheep, grain, hay, straw and an ever broadening array of specialty items (trout, llamas, peacocks, etc.). Bring the family and spend the day visiting a sampling of our “working” farms. The sights, sounds and smells will delight both young and old. Jefferson County 13th Annual Jefferson County Vanderveer Lane Farm Day is a FREE self-guided tour showcasing local, active farms. The purpose is to educate the public about farms, farmers, and farmland. It is sponsored by Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Potomac Headwaters R, C & D Council, the Small Business Development Center of the Panhandle and the WVU Jefferson County Extension Service. PLEASE RESPECT FARMERS’ PRIVACY & ONLY VISIT THE DAY OF THE TOUR 1. Drilake Farm 2.Green Horizons Turf Farm 3. Miller Farms 4. Mars Hall Farm Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, and marital or family status. FARM4 1 0 DAY2 Saturday, June 21st 10am-5pm PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPERVISING THEIR CHILDREN WHILE ON THE TOUR For more information, contact: Jane Tabb 304-725-4325 • [email protected] www.JeffersonFarms.org www.Jefferson.ext.wvu.edu A Free Self-Guided Tour of Local, Active Farms 1 DRILAKE FARM Irvin King started farming 50 years ago, buying his farm in Jefferson County in 1967. The King’s operation encompasses 1,000+ acres that produces corn, soybeans, wheat, rye and hay. All grain is stored for sale in a huge grain handling system. Black Angus graze the pastures and hay fills the 3 barns. Lots of farm equipment will be on display for Case and Massey Ferguson fans. Irvin claims to have the prettiest view in all of Jefferson County. Come check it out and see the WV Dairy Princess, Leah Minch, too. Travel 340 South from Charles Town towards Virginia. Turn LEFT onto Smith Road which is located directly across from John’s Restaurant on the right. Drive 2.5 miles on Smith Road to the farm lane on the LEFT. 348 SMITH ROAD, CHARLES TOWN, WV 3 MILLER FARMS Miller Farms was established in 1980 and features 2 enterprises. Three instructors provide riding lessons in English & Western plus all necessary tack and horse/pony is supplied. Field board and full board options for your horse are also available. With a love of gardening, Jim Miller, with wife Pam and daughter Cheryl, have ramped up production with a spring/summer garden and a fall garden. Greens are their specialty with 5 varieties of lettuce, plus collard greens and kale cut as the customer waits. Squash, tomatoes, corn, peppers, cucumbers, melons and more round out the produce for sale every Saturday & Sunday from 1-5pm. Take the Rt. 9 Bypass to the Kearneysville exit. Turn towards Leetown onto Leetown Road. Take the first RIGHT onto Bower Road. Travel approximately 1 mile and the farm entrance will be on the LEFT. 4120 BOWER RD, KEARNEYSVILLE, WV 2 GREEN HORIZONS TURF FARM Continuing a 200 year family farming tradition and filling a market niche prompted J Ware (Joseph A. Ware III) to found Green Horizons Turf Farms in 2002. These 400 acres produce turf grass sod with corn, soybeans and wheat crops rotated in for soil fertility and conservation. Fresh sod is cut and trucked to areas within 1 day’s travel from the farm and also sold directly from the farm. There will be a field demonstration of the sod harvester on the hour. View the irrigation system, have your grass growing questions answered plus view the current green carpet crop. From Kearneysville, travel South on Leetown Road for 3.7 miles. Turn LEFT onto Old Leetown Pike and drive 1.4 miles. Turn RIGHT on Darke Lane and travel 1.1 miles. Continue past Dr. Flanighan Road (& the Green Horizons sign) and turn on the first farm field on the RIGHT with Farm Day signs. From Rt. 51 west of Charles Town, drive for 3.3 miles. Turn RIGHT on Darke Lane and travel for .8 miles. Turn LEFT into the sod field with Farm Day signs. DARKE LANE, KEARNEYSVILLE www.greenhorizonsturf.com 4 MARS HALL FARM Bill Marshall relocated and began a new career as a produce grower in Jefferson County. Mars Hall has 3 tillable acres with plans to expand plus a greenhouse. Beginning his second year of operation, Bill is growing greens, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, radishes, carrots, corn, potatoes, herbs, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onions and more. Bee hives for honey production are natural pollinators for the crops. Chickens deliver a steady supply of fresh eggs. Produce is sold on site as it is harvested plus honey and eggs are available year round. Come see what fresh and natural food is all about. Mars Hall is open 7 days a week. From Shepherdstown, travel 2.5 miles on Kearneysville Pike/WV 480. Turn RIGHT into Vanderveer Lane. From Kearneysville, travel 2.8 miles on Kearneysville Pike/WV 480. Turn LEFT into Vanderveer Lane. 36 VANDERVEER LANE, SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV OR 2845 KEARNEYSVILLE PIKE, SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV www.mars-hallfarm.com