Long Island has a lengthy history in agriculture. Over the years, many of our east end farms have come and gone. Acres that were yesteryear's potato farms are now occupied by grapevines. Other sites remain occupied by family farms that have continued to operate through one generation after another. In today's quest to consume fresher foods that are grown locally, some families are inspired to delve into Long Island's farming roots for the first time. One such venture is underway in Wading River.
Bayberry Hollow Farm is the brainchild of Jane Shelton Sherman. When the former pediatric home care nurse was pregnant with her third of four children, it was time to hang up her scrubs and embrace the full-time joys and challenges that keeping up with her brood presented. Instead of being raised in day care, her children are growing up on a family farm that will grow right along with them under their mother's nurture.
The farm began as a hobby homestead, where the family was already raising chickens for eggs, growing many of their own vegetables and canning their own jams. Jane has always had a green thumb, and growing vegetables for her family was always a passion that she dabbled in whenever she could steal the time while caring for her family. Any extra produce, eggs and jams were given away to friends and family, however, and when Jane needed to feel that she could contribute her growing efforts to the family income by selling the results, the seed for this venture that is now officially called Bayberry Hollow Farm took root. That seed is now being nurtured and tended to sprout and blossom into the lucrative career that Jane envisions. The micro farm currently occupies one acre, and it is still in its infancy.
Nearly every day since the start of this year's farming season, when the farm's sign was posted, something new and exciting has taken place on the farm, from the first vegetable plantings to the recent addition of baby Peking ducks and four sheep. The farm is also home to goats, chickens and two hives of bees, as well as a couple of cats and the family's canine companions. The ducks will be raised for duck eggs, and the baby doll sheep will contribute their luxurious fibers. Presently available for purchase from the farm are eggs, courtesy of their organically raised, free-range chickens. Jane's husband, Jon, lends a helpful hand with some of the animal care and husbandry, and her children are eager to contribute their efforts toward socializing their furry and feathery friends.
Raw local honey from the farm's own apiary is anticipated for selling in the near future, as well as organic tomatoes, cucumbers, fennel, squash, beans, blackberries and raspberries from this year's harvested bounty. Currently, the town of Wading River is ironing out the necessary paperwork to host a farmer's market, a venue that Jane looks forward to being a part of. She also hopes to be a vendor at the Riverhead Farmer's Market by next year's growing season. In the meantime, she is learning all of the ins and outs of permits, laws, farming and selling. It's a learning experience, one at which Jane is a conscientious study. Her enthusiasm and determination are apparent in all her daily Facebook updates.
Any new excuse to garden does not get passed up at the family farm. When the family kitchen ran out of mint tea, one of Jane's children asked if tea could be steeped from the mint that grows in the garden. From the mouths of babes, and a new gardening inspiration takes hold. The possibility for a tea herb garden is being considered for the next growing season. Every intriguing encounter that Jane has through reading and conversation that centers on edible gardening gets filed in her memory bank as a potential future project for the ambitious farmer to dabble with.
In addition to contributing a cornucopia of food from her farm to your table, Jane also uses the farm to educate the community. She has already hosted tours of the farm for kindergarten classes, and future plans for offering classes on homesteading, crafts, kitchen gardening and other skills that can be gleaned from life on a farm. An event with renowned author and naturalist Steve "Wildman" Brill is scheduled for July, during which guests will be taken on a two hour tour of the farm and surrounding woodland to learn about foraging wild edibles.
Jane declares that digging in the dirt is where she loves to be. The dinner table is where Long Islanders will love to be when they soon reap the bountiful benefits of her passionate efforts. If you are interested in following the growth and progress of this new farm, head on over to Facebook and like the Bayberry Hollow Farm page. Jane posts about new and noteworthy happenings on the farm, and the enthusiasm in her posts is inspiring. Jane took a leap of faith and is making her contribution to keep the east end farming community thriving as she paves the way for a new generation of Long Island farmers.
If you want to purchase eggs or any of the other items as they become available, or if you would like to set up a class or event at the farm, send Jane a private message on the Facebook page or call the Bayberry Hollow Farm directly at 516-850-4975. You can also check back here on this page for periodic updates as the farm prospers.
Bayberry Hollow Farm is the brainchild of Jane Shelton Sherman. When the former pediatric home care nurse was pregnant with her third of four children, it was time to hang up her scrubs and embrace the full-time joys and challenges that keeping up with her brood presented. Instead of being raised in day care, her children are growing up on a family farm that will grow right along with them under their mother's nurture.
The farm began as a hobby homestead, where the family was already raising chickens for eggs, growing many of their own vegetables and canning their own jams. Jane has always had a green thumb, and growing vegetables for her family was always a passion that she dabbled in whenever she could steal the time while caring for her family. Any extra produce, eggs and jams were given away to friends and family, however, and when Jane needed to feel that she could contribute her growing efforts to the family income by selling the results, the seed for this venture that is now officially called Bayberry Hollow Farm took root. That seed is now being nurtured and tended to sprout and blossom into the lucrative career that Jane envisions. The micro farm currently occupies one acre, and it is still in its infancy.
Nearly every day since the start of this year's farming season, when the farm's sign was posted, something new and exciting has taken place on the farm, from the first vegetable plantings to the recent addition of baby Peking ducks and four sheep. The farm is also home to goats, chickens and two hives of bees, as well as a couple of cats and the family's canine companions. The ducks will be raised for duck eggs, and the baby doll sheep will contribute their luxurious fibers. Presently available for purchase from the farm are eggs, courtesy of their organically raised, free-range chickens. Jane's husband, Jon, lends a helpful hand with some of the animal care and husbandry, and her children are eager to contribute their efforts toward socializing their furry and feathery friends.
Raw local honey from the farm's own apiary is anticipated for selling in the near future, as well as organic tomatoes, cucumbers, fennel, squash, beans, blackberries and raspberries from this year's harvested bounty. Currently, the town of Wading River is ironing out the necessary paperwork to host a farmer's market, a venue that Jane looks forward to being a part of. She also hopes to be a vendor at the Riverhead Farmer's Market by next year's growing season. In the meantime, she is learning all of the ins and outs of permits, laws, farming and selling. It's a learning experience, one at which Jane is a conscientious study. Her enthusiasm and determination are apparent in all her daily Facebook updates.
Any new excuse to garden does not get passed up at the family farm. When the family kitchen ran out of mint tea, one of Jane's children asked if tea could be steeped from the mint that grows in the garden. From the mouths of babes, and a new gardening inspiration takes hold. The possibility for a tea herb garden is being considered for the next growing season. Every intriguing encounter that Jane has through reading and conversation that centers on edible gardening gets filed in her memory bank as a potential future project for the ambitious farmer to dabble with.
In addition to contributing a cornucopia of food from her farm to your table, Jane also uses the farm to educate the community. She has already hosted tours of the farm for kindergarten classes, and future plans for offering classes on homesteading, crafts, kitchen gardening and other skills that can be gleaned from life on a farm. An event with renowned author and naturalist Steve "Wildman" Brill is scheduled for July, during which guests will be taken on a two hour tour of the farm and surrounding woodland to learn about foraging wild edibles.
Jane declares that digging in the dirt is where she loves to be. The dinner table is where Long Islanders will love to be when they soon reap the bountiful benefits of her passionate efforts. If you are interested in following the growth and progress of this new farm, head on over to Facebook and like the Bayberry Hollow Farm page. Jane posts about new and noteworthy happenings on the farm, and the enthusiasm in her posts is inspiring. Jane took a leap of faith and is making her contribution to keep the east end farming community thriving as she paves the way for a new generation of Long Island farmers.
If you want to purchase eggs or any of the other items as they become available, or if you would like to set up a class or event at the farm, send Jane a private message on the Facebook page or call the Bayberry Hollow Farm directly at 516-850-4975. You can also check back here on this page for periodic updates as the farm prospers.
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Photos courtesy of Jane Shelton Sherman of Bayberry Hollow Farm.