Our Farm
Since we started Sustainable Harvest Farm in 2009, we have continued to look for ways to innovate and expand our farm to provide high-quality, sustainable food to our Farm Share members, customers and friends. Here are some of the notable events in our farm's history.
2021 - We installed a 13Kwh solar system to help offset our electrical use. The solar panel system should provide the majority of our farm's electrical needs.
2020 - In addition to providing our farm share customers with top quality produce, we began selling directly to Whole Foods Market. We also started powering our delivery vehicles with natural gas in 2020 as part of our ongoing efforts to be more sustainable.
2018 - We introduced the region's first customizable Farm Share (CSA) program. allowing customers to select what goes into their weekly produce shares, minimizing food waste.
2013 - We expanded our operation to include grass-fed beef and pastured pork.
2011 - We offered Sustainable Harvest Farm’s first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and became the first USDA-certified organic farm in the region.
December 2009 - We moved to our current home in London, Kentucky and began selling produce at the local Farmers’ Market the following summer.
2021 - We installed a 13Kwh solar system to help offset our electrical use. The solar panel system should provide the majority of our farm's electrical needs.
2020 - In addition to providing our farm share customers with top quality produce, we began selling directly to Whole Foods Market. We also started powering our delivery vehicles with natural gas in 2020 as part of our ongoing efforts to be more sustainable.
2018 - We introduced the region's first customizable Farm Share (CSA) program. allowing customers to select what goes into their weekly produce shares, minimizing food waste.
2013 - We expanded our operation to include grass-fed beef and pastured pork.
2011 - We offered Sustainable Harvest Farm’s first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and became the first USDA-certified organic farm in the region.
December 2009 - We moved to our current home in London, Kentucky and began selling produce at the local Farmers’ Market the following summer.
|
|
|
Our Promise
Sustainable Harvest Farm promises to produce a wide variety of certified organic, high-quality produce grown in an environmentally sensitive manner that ensures product safety through use of agricultural best practices that are annually certified by a 3rd party. We support and give back to our local communities and respect and value our employees.
Our offering supports individuals, families and businesses who desire to reduce food waste, eat healthier and improve their overall health and well-being. We strive to provide our customers with peace of mind knowing their food is grown locally in a manner that enhances our ecosystem yet ensures food safety.
Our offering supports individuals, families and businesses who desire to reduce food waste, eat healthier and improve their overall health and well-being. We strive to provide our customers with peace of mind knowing their food is grown locally in a manner that enhances our ecosystem yet ensures food safety.
Our History
Early Influences
Ford was born in Seattle, Washington, and his family lived in more than 15 homes during his childhood, with locations ranging from Lasqueti Island, British Columbia, to Maine and Mississippi. Although his parents were not farmers, they have always been champions of the environment. Ford credits his fascination with farming to his parents’ passion for protecting the environment and his mom’s ability to create beautiful outdoor spaces as a talented landscape architect.
The Journey
Ford’s journey to Kentucky began in 1999. While competing as a professional cyclist in New England, Ford was recruited to the cycling program at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky. There he earned a bachelor's degree in education and met the love of his life — Amanda.
Amanda is a Kentucky native who was studying biology with plans to pursue a career in science. But the two would soon set out on an entirely new journey together as they began to dream of a life in rural Kentucky, farming and growing their own food. Sustainable Harvest Farm grew out of this dream and their mutual love of the outdoors, wholesome food, environmental stewardship, and rural community life.
Love of Family and Farming
In 2005, Ford and Amanda married and settled into their first home in Georgetown, Kentucky. Ford spent his days teaching and Amanda pursued a Ph.D. in Physiology at the University of Kentucky. On his break from teaching, Ford picked up a summer job, and Amanda says he fell in love for the second time — this time with farming.
The Waterstrats lived across the street from one of Kentucky’s premier organic farms — Elmwood Stock Farm, and Ford became a farm hand there in 2006. Ford continued to work for and learn from the Bell family until the dream of establishing his own farm materialized in London, Kentucky.
Ford was born in Seattle, Washington, and his family lived in more than 15 homes during his childhood, with locations ranging from Lasqueti Island, British Columbia, to Maine and Mississippi. Although his parents were not farmers, they have always been champions of the environment. Ford credits his fascination with farming to his parents’ passion for protecting the environment and his mom’s ability to create beautiful outdoor spaces as a talented landscape architect.
The Journey
Ford’s journey to Kentucky began in 1999. While competing as a professional cyclist in New England, Ford was recruited to the cycling program at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky. There he earned a bachelor's degree in education and met the love of his life — Amanda.
Amanda is a Kentucky native who was studying biology with plans to pursue a career in science. But the two would soon set out on an entirely new journey together as they began to dream of a life in rural Kentucky, farming and growing their own food. Sustainable Harvest Farm grew out of this dream and their mutual love of the outdoors, wholesome food, environmental stewardship, and rural community life.
Love of Family and Farming
In 2005, Ford and Amanda married and settled into their first home in Georgetown, Kentucky. Ford spent his days teaching and Amanda pursued a Ph.D. in Physiology at the University of Kentucky. On his break from teaching, Ford picked up a summer job, and Amanda says he fell in love for the second time — this time with farming.
The Waterstrats lived across the street from one of Kentucky’s premier organic farms — Elmwood Stock Farm, and Ford became a farm hand there in 2006. Ford continued to work for and learn from the Bell family until the dream of establishing his own farm materialized in London, Kentucky.
|
|
|
Our Inspiration and Philosophy
Blessings, Family and Community
As the farm has expanded, so too has our family. We welcomed the arrival of our oldest son, Finley, in 2010, and were blessed again in 2013 with his twin brothers, Silas and Josiah. We enjoy teaching our children the joys of farming and rural living.
We are sustained by the loving support of our family and local church community. We credit God's abundant love,expressed through the support of family and His extraordinary creation for allowing us to survive the business of farm life, Amanda’s full-time educational career off the farm, and parenting three amazing boys.
As the farm has expanded, so too has our family. We welcomed the arrival of our oldest son, Finley, in 2010, and were blessed again in 2013 with his twin brothers, Silas and Josiah. We enjoy teaching our children the joys of farming and rural living.
We are sustained by the loving support of our family and local church community. We credit God's abundant love,expressed through the support of family and His extraordinary creation for allowing us to survive the business of farm life, Amanda’s full-time educational career off the farm, and parenting three amazing boys.
Giving Back
We feel so fortunate and are extremely blessed with a wonderful family, a community of friends, loyal customers and rich, fertile soil for our family farm to grow farm-fresh produce. With these incredible gifts, our family always looks for ways to give back to the communities we serve and opportunities to help others learn more about and experience organic farming.
Helping Those Less Fortunate
|
|
Offering Employment Opportunities
|
Sustainable Harvest Farm takes pride and in offering good, seasonal employment for 10 hardworking, young men, both local and from Mexico here legally in the United States.
|
|
Educating Others on Organic Farming and Healthy Eating
|
Sustainable Harvest Farm periodically over the season, will offer farm tours and cooking demos for folks in the area to learn more about healthy cooking, eating and organic farming.
And, in support of organic farming and other farmers, Ford Waterstrat and Sustainable Harvest Farm have presented at conferences or served with these organizations:
|
|
Want to learn more? Join the Kentucky Horticulture Council on their virtual field trip to our farm, and read along with Finley, Josiah and Silas as they share the story Tops & Bottoms.
