Project FARE Spotlight: Homesteader Farms

Photos courtesy of Angela Vesco

Homesteader Farms is located in Wilder, Idaho and is a true family farm. Tanya and Scott run the farm along with help from their two 14-year-old twin boys and their 4-year-old daughter.

Scott and Tanya are working diligently to grow the best tasting and nutrient packed produce they can without the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.

When did you start farming?

When we moved here is 2012, we wanted to grow things so we started with raspberries and garlic as part of our homestead. It really has been over the last 3 years where we really started farming or market gardening.

What drew you to farming?

We came to Idaho to live simply and off the land. We wanted to derive our living off the land or as close as possible.

How many people work on the farm? Is it primarily a family business?

Right now myself, Tanya and our two 14-year-old twin boys work on the farm and our 4-year-old daughter is able to help at times so for now it is primarily a family business.

How do you integrate nature into your farm?

We planted some windbreaks between gardens which consisted of fruit bearing shrubs and allowed nature to grow up around them. Good habitat for birds, bees, snakes, frogs and good insects. One of our sons built 2 American Kestrel boxes which have been inhabited every spring and also a Barn Owl box.

How has it been working with farmers markets?

Farmers Markets are currently the primary way we sell our produce directly to consumers. We currently go to the Caldwell and Nampa Farmers Markets.

What lessons have you learned? (I know this is a big question!)

One lesson is that living more simply and off the land is more expensive than we imagined. Another is how important marketing is when selling directly to customers, we are continuing to figure out how to best do this. Farming is very labor intensive so we continue to invest in techniques and tools that can lighten the load. One other lesson is how important planning is and how that impacts how efficient we can be on the farm.

What is the dream/long term plan for the farm?

One thing is to develop more markets where we are selling directly to customers, such as a CSA (we do have one but it is small) or selling online. We would like to incorporate more animals into the farm (possibly cows, sheep, goats, etc) that can complement what we are currently doing and enhance our soil health. Raising worms for the worm castings is another goal we have, and inviting more people directly to the farm via a u-pick on our berries.

Find Homesteader Farms at the Nampa and Caldwell Farmers Markets. More information about can be found on their Facebook page.