Village Acres - 2014

Village Acres Farm is a certified organic farm in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania. The Brubakers have operated the farm since 1982, and for the past 15 years they have focused primarily on community supported agriculture. Village Acres sells 200 summer CSA shares and 150 winter shares a year. In addition, they sell some produce wholesale through Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative.

The Brubakers have been growing certified organic produce for 20 years. The farm has 20 acres of tillable land and 13 acres in production. They grow a huge variety of produce ranging from salad greens and kohlrabi to raspberries and blueberries to asparagus, tomatoes, and squash and everything in between. In addition to the food they grow, Village Acres is also certified organic for some wild crops that grow on their land, including ramps.

Walking around the farm, you will see a greenhouse with heated water that runs under beds that need a little extra warmth. In addition, there are two four-season high tunnels and three more high tunnels adjacent to the open fields. These were initially constructed for winter crops but have proven to be even more useful for summer crop protection. Among the other sites to see at Village acres are the movable chicken houses where they raise between 200-300 laying hens and 1,000 broilers a year in batches of 100. The chickens are not certified organic but are fed a natural diet. Also of interest are the many homemade machines and hand-powered tools around the farm. The Brubakers have developed many ways to reduce energy costs while also increasing efficiency.

The newest addition to the farm is the Foodshed which boasts a commercial kitchen and multipurpose space. The beautiful timber frame building is available for rent, including the kitchen for those that need access to a commercial kitchen for value-added products. The Brubakers use this new building for making value-added products, education and outreach, a meeting place for CSA members, and extra room for packing. The building was designed with reused materials and energy efficiency in mind. The Foodshed is just one more example of Village Acres' "commitment to connect people to their food, the earth, and each other."