Barn Swallow Farm

Emily and Dan's journey into farming began with a book by Joel Salatin, which inspired Dan's passion for gardening to evolve into a full-fledged farming endeavor. After years of planning and learning, they moved from Hicksville, NY to a 14-acre farm near South Bend, IN, during the harsh winter of 2020. Their dream of raising a family close to nature and providing sustainably grown local food became a reality as they settled into their new home.

The farm focuses on organic and sustainable methods, aiming to rejuvenate land depleted by years of conventional corn and soybean farming. They are committed to starting small, adding only essential infrastructure, and gradually expanding to around an acre in size. Their approach emphasizes careful stewardship of the land, ensuring that the soil and ecosystem are nurtured back to health.

The farm offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program called Farmbox, where members receive weekly boxes of vegetables. The process includes field walks to determine harvest readiness, newsletters with updates and recipes, and organized pickups at the farm or the Purple Porch Co-Op. Members can customize their shares to reduce food waste and enjoy a variety of fresh produce. The farm also sells vegetables online and at local farmers markets.