Farm

Woodcrest Farm is located at the corner of Dairyland and Orange Grove Roads in Orange County, NC. The farm and house were first worked in the 1880’s by the Reynolds Family then passed by 1920 to one of the Snipes Families who still farm in this area.

 

This has always been a “family farm” - which means that, in today’s agricultural market, it is too small to be profitable in the usual agri-business model. Our strategy has been to develop niche markets: grass-fed Dexter beef, farm-raised pork, goats and sheep, and last year we began experimenting with heritage chickens.

 

All of these breeds can coexist, use the land gently, and be economically practical for a family farm.

 

We have found a useful model in the farms of the early 1900’s: small, multi-use, and relatively self-sufficient; this dovetails nicely with our interest in historic farming methods, skills, and rural life.

 

We find great joy in sharing the heritage of the land, breeds and skills unique to the Orange Grove area, where there is a sense of community and a welcoming open door.

 

Staff

Christine and Allan Green

Christine “Grandma Green” and Allan own and manage Woodcrest Farm. Chris has always been a skilled homemaker. Her knowledge extends to weaving, chair-caning, and other forgotten skills.

 

Allan works the draft animals and keeps the dogs herding. He is a jack of all trades eagerly looking forward to the day when he has his forge built and he can repair carriages, gates, and farm shop barrels.

 

Together they have accumulated an extensive collection of antique farm machinery and household items. They use these tools in teaching and sharing about the cultural heritage of the farm.

 

Cecelia King

“CC” teaches Farm Ecology and is director of marketing and communications.

 

Animals

• Dexter cattle: a small, hardy, dual-purpose breed that does very well on grass and forage.

 

• Boer goats: kept for pasture management and marketed for meat, as well as Oberhasli and Alpine dairy goats.

 

• Katahdin sheep: a hair-sheep, raised for meat.

 

• Tamworth hogs

 

• A team of Halflinger horses, Nifty and Buddy, who are wagon-trained, and May the mule, who pulls a carriage.

 

• Fowl: Dominique and Buckeye chickens, Muscovy ducks and a China goose.

 

•Border collies and Great Pyrenees to herd and guard the livestock.

 

• And, Catfish in the pond.