Homestead Farms, Inc began in 2001 on 77 acres of newly purchased, conventionally farmed (corn, soybeans, wheat) land.  Alison and Luke’s goal was to grow organic vegetables for sale at Farmers’ Markets.  Alison, armed with a BS in Sustainable Ag from the University of Maine and Luke, armed with a lifetime of farming experience, began Homestead Farms (HFI) in October of 2001.  The first year began with greenhouse construction on a second hand greenhouse brought down from Northern Maine.  At the same time electric service was installed and a well dug.  In January, the greenhouse was tilled with a small rototiller (the first of many farm related presents to be exchanged on major holidays) and spring greens were planted.  In April, we moved outside to till a small patch of land beside the greenhouse. That season we had a 10 member CSA, started selling vegetables at the Easton Farmers’ Market and sold some Sungold Cherry tomatoes to the Narrows Restaurant in Queen Anne’s County.

In the first three years of production, the farm was in transition to becoming Certified Organic.  After the three year transition period we contracted with a third party certifying agency, Quality Certification Services (QCS), from Gainesville, Florida to oversee our Certified Organic Status.  We chose QCS for their extreme attention to detail and customer service.  Organic certification is an annual review of our physical property, all crops being grown in our rotation as well as every single piece of paper associated with our operation from individual seed packets and harvest records to what crops our neighbors are growing.  We believe in the integrity of the National Organic Program and are proud to be Certified Organic Vegetable farmers.

Alison Howard

Homestead Farms, Inc