our beginnings

Our 140 acre farm located on the Susquehanna River, in Duncannon, PA, has been in the family for 5 generations. With each generation figuring out a way to keep the farm in operation, Wooden Hill Farms is our newest name and iteration. You may know us as the Owens farm. You may have gotten your TV repaired here by Oliver Winslow Owens. Perhaps Ethel Hilbish Kines Owens taught you English or Problems of Democracy at Susquenita High School. Maybe you grew up with Tara and Carol. However you came to first know us, we’re so glad you’re here at our virtual home.

Wooden Hill Farms got its start back in 2008 when it operated as a farm stand as well as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. In addition to supplying 75 members with a 20 week subscription of organic vegetables, flowers, and herbs, Wooden Hill was committed to a social mission as well. Donating thousands of pounds of produce (freshly picked, not just extras) to the Perry County Food Bank was a way to reach vulnerable populations in our community that may not have been able to afford our share prices. It is this social mission and sense of purpose that has driven us forward each year. Now, in addition to selling its fruits and vegetables, Wooden Hill Farms donates its produce to homeless shelters, food pantries, and soup kitchens in Harrisburg, PA each growing season.

our mission

At Wooden Hill Farms, we believe that everyone should have access to fresh food. Our mission is to promote local, sustainable, organic agriculture while enhancing and supporting our local ecology, and nourishing our communities, with a focus on those most in need.

what we grow

At Wooden Hill Farms, we have been cultivating and maintaining 10 acres organically since 2009, growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Crops include asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumbers, peppers, summer and winter squash, tomatoes, corn, herbs, lettuce, okra, potatoes, kale, chard, turnips, strawberries, melons, and more.

We also have been tending to our orchard filled with apple, pear, plum, apricot, and peach trees. Our orchard is also filled with young chestnut, hazelnut, jujube, and pawpaw trees.

In addition, we recently transitioned all 80 tillable acres of cropland to grow organic grains and hay. We are excited about this transition and could not have done it without the technical help and management support of the Rodale Institute, Kitchen Table Consultants, and our other farming partners.

4,000,000

number of farms that have been lost to development in the U.S. since 1948

12.9%

of Dauphin County, PA is food insecure

[Feeding America, 2019]

14.9%

of all children are food insecure in Perry County, PA

[Feeding America, 2019]

our growing philosophy

We believe in regenerative organic agriculture’s power to build nourishing and balanced soils filled with organic matter, retain water preventing drought and erosion, and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Without relying on synthetic chemicals including fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides, our focus instead relies on encouraging biodiversity and a healthy balance of microbial activity within our soils. We believe that this form of agriculture is more sustainable, supporting more resilient food crops without damaging our ecosystem, and ultimately is safer for our farmers and eaters.

get involved

If you live near our farm (or don’t!) get involved to receive portions of our harvest. We accept volunteers regardless of skill level. We’ll teach you the skills you need to know. Maybe you love gardening but just don’t have the time to start your own garden? Or maybe you’re looking to learn about plants and connect with nature a bit more? Perhaps you’ve been looking for a way to help those in need and give back to the community? Please be in touch so we can welcome you to our farm!