From al fresco farm-to-table dinners to pick-your-own fields of flowers to the rustic rambles known as farm crawls, we unearth the bounty of agritourism in West Virginia.
written by Nikki Bowman Mills & Devin Lacy
photographed by Nikki Bowman Mills & Carla Witt Ford
West Virginia has a long history of self-sufficiency. We’re a hearty people, resourceful with knowledge of our land and how to use it. From the fruits of our trees and bushes to the vegetables grown from the dark, rich soils to the livestock raised and protected on our pastures, we’ve learned how to provide for ourselves and our communities.
We’ve been eating this way seemingly forever, but it has grown into so much more. Farm-to-table dining is a movement that celebrates the culinary side of our agricultural roots and supports the very farmers and producers who are utilizing these resources to keep recipes and traditions alive. To say it simply: West Virginia is the place that does farm-to-table. Here, it’s an adventure, a whole experience of flavor and innovation crossed with community and tradition. For many of those who are willing to open their farms—their homes—to their communities, providing them with high-quality products grown and sourced from our very own mountains, it’s not just food. It’s an adventure—a “food-venture.” And they are happy to let us tag along.
WV Living has visited many farms, fields, and markets over the years, and the ones showcased in this story are just part of a much larger selection. Whether it’s a small family farm passed down through generations, full of love and pride for their state and for their vocations, or a newer venture that saw a need and filled it with passion and care, these agribusinesses remain dedicated to the values of Appalachia and West Virginia in ways we are excited to share with you.
Nellie’s Flower Farm, Augusta
Nellie’s Flower Farm, owned and managed by Angie Park and her family since the late 1800s, started as a small plot of flowers and has grown into a wonderfully whimsical place in Augusta to not only pick your own flowers and enjoy a myriad of classes, but now, with glamping amenities and a geodome, you can stay there as well. Peacocks and other farm animals roam the grounds of this eco-friendly farm that hosts mini artisan festivals once a month where local vendors sell their wares. @nelliesflowerfarm on FB
Fainting Hills, Augusta
Begun as an FFA project in 2006, Fainting Hills has become one of the state’s leading breeding farms for the myotonic goat—commonly called the Tennessee fainting goat. Myotonic goats, which are one of the few breeds indigenous to the United States, make excellent pets and breeding stock, and Fainting Hills’ breeding stock are registered with the MGR (Myotonic Goat Registry). When you tour this farm during the Hampshire County Farm Crawl, Fainting Hills will ask you to step into a bleach water bath for the bottoms of your shoes to make sure you don’t introduce contaminants, which could give their farm animals diseases. An interesting fact: Fainting goats don’t actually faint. Their muscles stiffen when they get scared, causing them to fall over. But after they have been scared so many times in a day, they don’t do it as much—so if you want to see these adorable creatures “faint,” visit early in the morning. faintinghills.com, @faintinghills on FB
Bigg Riggs Farm, Augusta
This veteran-owned family farm—run by Calvin Riggleman, a former Marine with a long-standing family history in the world of agriculture—grows strawberries, peaches, cherries, plums, apples, and so much more. They also make products for your pantry, such as jams, jellies, mustards, and BBQ sauces. Subscribe to one of their weekly produce boxes to make their fresh and flavorful produce a part of your daily dinner routine. Oh, and let’s not forget the incredible moonshine at their small, farm-based distillery, Flying Buck Distillery. Take part in a tour of the facility, and make sure you try their Apple Pie Moonshine!
WV Broom Barn, Kirby
Wanda Hott was looking for a hobby to pass the time when she took up the Appalachian traditional craft of broom making. Now the owner of WV Broom Barn, Hott creates handmade brooms that have made their way to barns and porches across the country. During the Hampshire County Farm Crawl, you can watch demonstrations and purchase a wide variety of brooms, from your standard, time-tested corn brooms to a blue-and-gold-dyed piece for a West Virginia University fan. Each one is unique in color, handle pattern, and contrasting twine, and the finished product is a work of art. You’ll never look at the act of sweeping the same way again. wvbroombarn.com, @wvbroombarn on FB
Farm Works Wonders, Wardensville
If you want to be inspired by an agritourism enterprise, visit Wardensville, where Farms Work Wonders, a food, farm, and arts-based nonprofit, has transformed the lives of youth in its community. This organization provides paid on-the-job training and enrichment classes through a collection of social enterprises that serve as living classrooms—Wardensville Garden Market, Lewis Farm, Mack’s Bingo Kitchen, Mack’s Bingo Bakery, and Dakota Glass Works. All enterprises in the Farms Work Wonders family reinvest 100% of their profits into their youth programming.
Lewis Farm is a certified organic vegetable farm providing produce to the Wardensville Garden Market, Mack’s Bingo Bakery, Mack’s Bingo Kitchen, and other local outlets. Wardensville Garden Market is their on-farm market, where you can find a range of goods produced from their bakery, farm, kitchen, and glass studio. A full-service restaurant and bar, Mack’s Bingo Kitchen utilizes seasonal ingredients from its own organic farm as well as from other nearby farms. Mack’s Bingo Bakery is a from-scratch bakery that incorporates seasonal fruit and produce in its creations, and Dakota Glass Works is a state-of-the-art glassblowing studio dedicated to promoting and preserving the historic West Virginian art of glassblowing. Depending on which entity the student is working with, they gain a range of workforce experience—from running a retail establishment to culinary skills to organic and sustainable farming techniques to front- and back-of-house restaurant operations. farmsworkwonders.org
Orr’s Farm Market, Martinsburg
Orr’s Farm Market in Martinsburg began in 1995, but the farm dates back to the 1950s, when George S. Orr Jr. purchased his first orchard. Today, it is an agritourism poster child. In addition to the full retail market, bakery, and gift shop, they also package for wholesale customers; have a thriving pick-your-own business where crowds start pouring in for the cherry blossoms in the spring; berries, flowers, and live bluegrass music in the summer; and pick-your-own apples or pumpkins in the fall. The Barnyard is a child’s dream experience where, on the weekends, they can enjoy a hayride and feed baby animals. Orr’s even hosts a weekly CSA delivery program. Their offerings are so impressive that Fox News recently named Orr’s one of the top 10 best orchards in the country to visit. This summer, they are opening a new satellite farm market in Shenandoah Junction, right next to Black Dog Coffee Shop. orrsfarmmarket.com
Creekside Garden at The Greenbrier,
White Sulphur Springs
Looking to experience the majestic grounds of The Greenbrier in a unique way? Then check out its Farm to Table Dinner series at Greenbrier Creekside Gardens, located on the banks of Howard’s Creek. You’ll enjoy the evening family-style at a table nestled in the middle of The Greenbrier’s gardens and enjoy carefully crafted dishes like Shrimp Toast with Pickled Green Tomato, Trout Caviar, and Ramp Aioli; Confit “Jubilee Homestead Rabbit”; or Rainbow Trout with Tartar Beurre Blanc. Each of the courses is accompanied by a local wine or cider and live music. greenbrier.com/events/farm-to-table-dinner
McMurran Farm, Shepherdstown
Dining al fresco in the midst of the picturesque rolling fields of McMurran Farm in Shepherdstown is made even more magical given that the proceeds from this annual tradition go to The Shepherd University Last Dollar Fund, which helps undergraduate students who are experiencing financial challenges complete their degrees. Joy and Eric Lewis, who host this farm-to-table dinner on their property, reached out to Mike Costello and Amy Dawson of Lost Creek Farm to prepare the meal.
“When Joy and I watched the now-famous Anthony Bourdain episode, we were drawn to Mike and Amy. The dinner they prepared at their farm in Harrison County looked amazing, and it clearly captivated Anthony Bourdain,” says Eric Lewis. “That was enough for me. I knew right then we needed to convince Mike and Amy to come to our farm for this fundraiser. It didn’t take any convincing. They were in immediately. They are clearly very community-minded folks.”
Costello and Dawson serve five different courses, prepared in the Lewises’ kitchen using locally sourced ingredients and served out their front door to long farm-style tables on the front lawn. With each course, Costello tells the story behind each recipe. Lewis says, “The courses are so thoughtful, and they convey the history of the hard-working folks of Appalachia. All the attendees clearly feel the care that goes into crafting this meal.”
White Picket Farm, Elizabeth
White Picket Farm in Elizabeth is an agritourism destination that nourishes more than just your body—it feeds your spirit and your creativity. Deb and Jeff Hartshorn created this multi-faceted pick-your-own flower farm in 2019. Nestled among the vibrant fields of zinnias, celosia, gomphrena, and perennial beds are darling white studios—a greenhouse, a workshop, and a market where farm-made products complement the essence of home that defines the White Picket experience. The Potting Shed is where Deb Hartshorn hosts in-demand classes, from floral arranging to sourdough baking to candle making. “White Picket is a place where people gather to celebrate, be inspired, find peace, and embrace beauty—all while sharing good food,” she says.
Hartshorn has always loved inspiring and teaching others. In 2023, she added sourdough classes to her lineup, complete with a tutorial on making fresh butter, and complemented with a tasting of White Picket floral and berry jelly as well as a woodland arrangement class, where she teaches the art of foraging with a curated eye. She works with customers to create custom private experiences that elevate life celebrations. @whitepicketfarm on FB
Pendleton County Farmers Market, Franklin
Every Saturday during the summer, Pendleton County Farmers Market, like many farmers markets around the state, brings its community together. But in 2022, it added something different—a farm-to-table dinner—as an additional way to create a space to share and enjoy the food its community makes and to raise money for the organization. The organizers brought in Chef Matt Welsch of Vagabond Kitchen in Wheeling to oversee the culinary creativity, and Jeff and Theresa Munn of Dry Run Spirits Distillery offered their farm as the venue. “The Munns are incredible supporters of all things innovative in our community, and their venue holds a special place in the history of food and beverage manufacture in Pendleton County, so their generosity and enthusiasm, as well as Matt’s, were a perfect fit,” says Annie Humes, one of the organizers. “In Pendleton County there aren’t a lot of dining options, and even fewer that can make the kinds of sourcing decisions we are able to make for this event each year. We love the sense that this dinner gives us a chance to share a really beautiful example of what the bounty of our mountain community can transform into, which is something that is special for both locals and visitors to be able to experience.” farmpendleton.org
Bop and Nana’s, Calhoun County
Tim and Melody Urbanic’s Second Sunday Suppers at Bop & Nana’s showcase local, organic, and artisan produce and meats, fresh fruits, and baked goods from the grounds of their charming Calhoun County farm. In the tradition of Appalachian Sunday dinners that were often served early in the day, their suppers run from 1 to 3 p.m. Each ticket is $100 and includes the supper, a complimentary beverage, tax, and service gratuity, plus a signed commemorative menu. They even invite a local artisan to display and sell their products from the porch of their home. For availability follow them on Facebook, @bopandnana.
Farm Fresh Recipes
Bop & Nana’s Spring Salad with Redbud Blossoms and Ramp Vinaigrette
Tomato Gazpacho
Poor House Hill Tomato and Cucumber Salad
TO MARKET, TO MARKET
FARM MARKETS, AGRIBUSINESSES, AND LOCALLY OWNED SHOPS FOR LOCAL PRODUCTS are becoming more and more numerous across the state. So, where do you begin? West Virginia Grown’s comprehensive yearly directory makes it easy to find your favorite West Virginia products from your favorite agricultural gurus. Click this link to begin your discovery of West Virginia’s vibrant—and growing—farm culture.
PLACES TO PICK YOUR OWN
Appalachian Lavender Hernshaw
Blue Sky Orchards Bluefield
Blueberry Ridge Farms Fairmont
Bushel and Peck Flower Farm Huntington
Charm Flower Farm Thornton
Cook Farm Point Pleasant
Dorothy’s Blueberry Patch Rowlesburg
Eagleview Lavender Farm Maysville
Eric Freeland Farm Wellsburg
Family Roots Farm Wellsburg
FernFaye Farm Fairmont
Floral Acres French
Creek Four Seasons Farm Leon
Friendly Goat Fruit Farm Renick
Frostmore Farm Dunmore
Given Flower Company Given
Gritt’s Farm Buffalo
Hazel Run Flower Farm Bruceton Mills
Higson Farm Wiley Ford
Nellie’s Flower Farm Augusta
Oak Groves Farm Independence
Orr’s Farm Market Martinsburg
Robin’s Nest Farm Williamsburg
Shady Oaks Farm Poca
Sterns Berry Farm Independence
Stone House Lavender Fairmont
Sunset Berry Farms Alderson
Sweet Violet Farm LeRoy
Victory Ridge Flower Farm Harrisville
White Oak Farm Renick
White Picket Farm Elizabeth
The Wild Sonflower Jane Lew
Williams River Strawberries Dyer
List courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2024 ISSUE
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