How A Farm Becomes Part Of A Community & Vice Versa
When we first broke ground on Hansel Hill Farm, it wasn’t with acres of land or generations of farming behind us. It was just Brian and me—two first-generation farmers, two acres, and a whole lot of heart.
We’d both spent years in the Military. Life there was structured, predictable, mission-focused. The connection was unlike anything we've ever experienced. We had a second family, our military family. Even now, as a retired veteran, my military family will stay with me until my last breath.
When we left that world, what we longed for most wasn’t rest. It was a connection… real, rooted, local connection, just like we had when we were in the military. We wanted to build something that would serve people, feed people, and bring people together. Raised by a Marine, and then myself retiring from the Army, the only life I know of is a life of service, and I love every second of it. We love spreading joy. We love the real connection between our farm and this community.
That’s why Hansel Hill Farm was never just about growing food. It was always about growing a community.
A Community Farm In Every Sense Of The Word
You’ll hear that phrase, community farm, a lot these days. But to us, it means something pretty specific:
It means familiar faces showing up each week to pick up eggs and linger a little longer to chat. It means a preschooler naming our goats and feeling like they’re “hers” every time she visits. It means field trips where kids start out nervous and end up digging their hands in the soil like they were born to it.
We’ve worked hard to make this a place where everyone feels welcome, whether you’re just visiting for the day, or part of our weekly rhythm.
What Makes Our CSA Different
If you’ve been Googling CSA near me, you’ve probably seen all kinds of models. Some are subscription-based. Some require big upfront payments. Ours is simple: it’s free to join, no commitment required.
Each week, we post what’s available (fresh produce, pantry items, local goods) and you only pay for what you want. Pickup is every Friday from 3–8pm, right here on the farm. It’s easy. It’s local. And you’ll often see neighbors swapping recipes in the parking lot before heading home.
For us, this kind of flexible CSA isn’t just about convenience… it’s about belonging. We believe fresh, local food should never feel intimidating or exclusive. It should feel personal. It should feel like walking into your favorite corner store… if that corner store had chickens.
And when someone comes to the farm who truly needs food but can’t pay for it? We give it to them. Quietly. Happily. No questions asked. Yes, we charge fair prices, and often, our produce is cheaper than what you’d find in a grocery store. But more than anything, we believe no one should be left out of good food and good community.
Where The Coffee Comes In
There’s something a little magical and probably unique about us roasting coffee on a farm. Maybe it’s the way the air smells in the morning. Maybe it’s the steam curling into the breeze as the animals start to stir. Whatever it is, our coffee bar has become a quiet staple of this place.
We started roasting coffee during COVID—out of sheer boredom, honestly. My sister-in-law gave me a five-minute tutorial: “Use a Whirley Pop on the stove until it’s the color you want, then cool it, let it rest, and enjoy.” That first batch wasn’t perfect, but it was ours. And we were hooked.
We quickly outgrew hand-cranking single bags, but we still roast in small batches, just a few pounds a week. That’s the key to keeping it fresh. It’s been four years now, and our coffee has become one of our signature staples, right up there with our honey. So naturally, it only made sense to bring the two together.
We started serving coffee after yoga classes and weekend events, and now, I swear, some folks come back just for that post-hayride cup. It’s become part of the ritual: visit the animals, grab a cup, sit under the pavilion, and talk about anything or nothing at all. It’s warm hands, fresh air, and a moment to just be.
Some days, those conversations lead to new friendships. Other days, they’re exactly the moment of peace someone didn’t know they needed.
Volunteers Make The World Go Round
We wouldn’t be who we are without our volunteers. From the folks who help with special events, to the ones who pop in just to feed animals or weed the garden—we see you. You’re family.
We’ve built a volunteer program that offers more than just labor. It’s a way to belong. We’ve had homeschoolers earn service hours, retirees reconnect with the land, and military families (like ours once was) find stability and purpose in routine chores and shared work.
If you’ve ever searched for “local farms to visit” because you wanted to feel useful or grounded again, we hope you land here.
Where Community Grows: Events, Camping & Kids Who Call It Theirs
One of the most beautiful surprises since starting Hansel Hill Farm has been watching kids grow up here. Some came for their very first birthday party and now come back each year to pet the goats like they’re old friends. Others met during summer camp, bonded over feeding ducks and building biodomes, and have stayed connected long after the farm chores were done.
This is our third year running summer camp, and many of our original campers still return every season. Parents often tell us it’s the best camp their kids have ever experienced, and that it comes up all year long at the dinner table or in car rides, tucked between math tests and soccer practice.
We pack those camp days full: caring for animals, making pickles, running through the fields in games like capture the flag. One camper told us, “It’s like recess all day!” We took that as the highest praise.
A Place To Return To, Season After Season
And it’s not just camp. We see that spark in the kids who come for yurt camping nights with scout troops, or the ones who confidently lead their younger siblings around during CSA pickup, like it’s their farm. Because it is.
We see it in the wide-eyed wonder of first-time campers collecting eggs. In the quiet confidence of our “Farmer in Training” homeschoolers learning to care for a greenhouse. And in the squeals of laughter from late-night hayrides under the stars.
There’s a rhythm to it all now. Fall means Halloween hayrides and marshmallow roasting. Spring brings baby chicks and school field trips. Summer is for muddy boots and popsicles and kids who come home tired, happy, and full of farm stories.
And every season brings new faces that, somehow, never feel like strangers for long.
If you’ve been looking for local farms to visit that go beyond just picking produce; farms that stick with your kids and feel like home by the second visit, we hope you’ll stop by. Come for an event, stay for a cup of coffee, and maybe—just maybe—catch a chicken trying to sneak into the party looking for the dropped pizza crust.
Why This Work Matters
Brian and I talk a lot about why we do this. It’s early mornings, long hours, unpredictable weather, and always one more project on the list. But at the end of the day, when I look around at this place: the animals, the rows of growing food, the chalk drawings from visiting kids, the half-finished coffee cups left on picnic tables, I see belonging.
This farm has become a landing place. For families, for friends, for people who just need a breath of fresh air and a reason to look up from their phones.
And isn’t that what community is all about?
Looking for a community farm near you?
We’re tucked into Millersville, Maryland; easy to find, even easier to fall in love with. Whether you’re coming for a CSA pickup, planning a birthday party, or just want your child to know the joy of brushing a goat and holding a warm egg in their hand… this is your place.
At Hansel Hill Farm, we don’t just grow food or raise bees. We grow memories. We grow kids who feel grounded. We grow moments of calm for parents and grandparents who come along “just to help” and end up staying a little longer than they planned.
If you're searching for CSA near me, or one of those local farms to visit that truly welcomes you in—you’ve found it.
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The gate’s always open. Come be part of what we’re building.
