Our Story.
What began as simply watching a food processing documentary in 2015, has turned into Farm One-Eleven. A small, first-generation family farm in the Appalachian Hills of Wheeling, West Virginia.
But it took awhile. We, Farmboy and I, were busy chasing kids, working full-time jobs, and all the other things that keep a family of five busy. But we couldn’t shake seeing how the commercially-raised animals spent their lives and what we were really eating. We decided to visit some farms that were practicing regenerative, pastured farming and slowly began learning how to grow food in a way that was good for the land, for the animals, and truly nourishing for us.
From there, we planted our first garden, began to clear some land, and then one evening, the Farmboy arrived home with 15 chickens in the car. Since they couldn’t stay in the car, we began to put into practice what we’d been learning.
By 2019 we’d decided to get to work more deliberately, based on what it seemed our land could support (and we could try to keep up with). By spring of 2020, we’d added some layers as our early hens were getting old, got a batch of broiler chickens, processed them by hand, then welcomed two heritage pigs, Hock and Bits, to the little farm.
Last year, our small farm was home to 6 pure-bred heritage Berkshire pigs, 140 broiler chickens, 30 layer hens (with some roosters), 30 bantam chickens, a small garden with pumpkins, corn, elderberry, and the like, and a small start to an apple orchard. And of course the farm dog, Winston.
Our Why.
Anything that comes from the land, or is sustained by the land, is by the provision and design of God. As stewards of this provision, we believe it is our responsibility to foster ethical, sustainable, and regenerative agricultural practices. Our hope is that, as long as we can sustain it, we can grow more so we can share with those in our community looking for clean, good, locally grown food.
It becomes a reciprocal relationship; when we care for the land, animals and vegetation, in return, we receive a food source that is not only nourishing but contributes to our health with more of the good stuff (vitamins, minerals, energy, etc.) and not the bad stuff (antibiotics, hormones, feces, artificial additives, and so much more that is ‘permissible’ in much of the commercially grown food). We don’t grow all our food, so we’ll see you at the market’s and the grocery store. But, simply put, we have access to enough food that is processed, so we invest in, and work to, offer clean, health-giving alternatives in the areas we can.
We believe if we are going to grow food, it should not be artificial but REAL, not mediocre but truly GOOD, and not a fake substitute that passes for consumption, but simply, honest FOOD.
Our How.
Because our animals live outdoors and are forest and pasture-raised with rotational grazing, we work alongside them day after day — in the sunshine, rain, wind, and yes, even in the snow and ice that Wheeling, West Virginia promises each winter.
We believe there is always more to learn, and that there’s always room to grow and get better; so we remain students, and we love to share what we’ve learned so far.
We strive to grow and share Real. Good. Food.