Our family farm, Sawmill Hollow, is nestled in a small valley in the heart of the rolling Loess Hills is known for its fertile soil and lush vegetation. It is no wonder that my mom, Cindy, was traveling the scenic route with her brother Jim when she first stumbled upon the place. And it certainly left an impression. That night she wrote in her diary that when she moved back to Western Iowa, she wanted to live in Sawmill. Years later she made that dream come true.
Like most things good, it took time to make Sawmill our home. We started off with a house, an inherited eco-system, a dog who thinks he is human, and developed our concept of organic farming. It has become our family’s mission to farm with nature and reintroduce the aronia berry to the masses, because of its bountiful nature, rich taste, and American heritage.
Ever since, we’ve used our farm as a gathering place for family and friends. Sawmill Hollow has the unique ability to speak to people, and it is an exemplar of the idyllic rural setting. In Eliot Coleman’s book, The New Organic Farmer, he describes the perfect farm as a valley, with a rectangular 5-10 acre field, stuck between a hill and a tree line, with a deep fertile loam. When we planted our farm, that description is what we got
Even more so with saw Sawmill’s unique isolated setting we had the special opportunity to cultivate earth that had never been touched by chemical. We chose not to be just organic farmers, but something more, we decided to create an ecological farm and preserve God’s great creation. One might say we are our own little mini-ecosystem.
It has become our passion to make nature not the nuisance, but a partner in our activities. Vaughn, Cindy, and myself look at this farm not only as our livelihood but a collaborative project between individuals, the community, citizens of this state, our countrymen, and the ecological species that we depend upon.
It is our hope to be a part of a movement that will build stronger, healthy rural communities, which through positive farming, gardening, local support, and innovative thinking can improve the lives of Americans. This is why we sponsor an annual aronia festival where aronia berry products and locally grown foods are served; while local artisans display their crafts. This is a great way to gather and bring exposure to locals and their hard work.
It is always our pleasure to help new farmers get started, share ideas, and work together to build a better earth. If you have any questions or a group that would like to raise money—please contact us. We love the opportunity to share the view of the hills and welcome the opportunity to pick berries with us.