about honeycreek farm and apiary
HCF is a new small family farm in northern Maryland. We moved here in an effort to provide our sons a fun childhood where they could run and play outside to their hearts' content, just like how Mom grew up, and where we could keep our horses in our own backyard instead of a boarding barn. We decided to add some livestock to the venture and started with chickens and ducks. We delighted in raising our own eggs, and we then started a 10,000 square foot garden. The intent was to raise our own food. Now we raise American Guinea Hogs, honey bees, and miniature Nubian goats in addition to the poultry and children. Please see their pages for more information on these fascinating animals.
know your farmer
Farm Mom: mom grew up on a small farm and raised vegetables, goats, poultry and calves along with hogs and horses. Mom manages the day to day operations, plans all breedings and harvests, and provides most of the care for people and animals. Mom also happens to work part time a s a licensed veterinarian.
Farm Kids: each child has one animal species they help with. This help includes feeding, watering, cleaning, and other management as needed. They also help in the garden and with landscaping, snow removal and household chores. We homeschool, and two Farm Kids are club swimmers.
Farm Dad: he grew up in a suburban area and had no livestock. He ends up being the brawn of the outfit and has learned to build fences, install gates, and restrain animals for veterinary procedures when he is not at work or taking kids to the pool.
philoSophy
Raise animals and produce in as natural a process as possible. However, we do use medications and such on an as needed basis; no animals are given medications in a prophylactic manner.
While not certified organic, we feed as much organic feed as possible and use organic treatments whenever possible.
The animals are allowed to live as naturally as possible: family groups, free ranging, outdoors. We do control reproduction as needed..obviously we cannot afford to keep or are able to find homes for all the animals that could result if we did not control it.
Our goal is to provide healthy food for our family and we are happy to share excess with others.
the story of our name
When we bought this place, we found a creek running through the woods on the north side of the property. A picturesque stream, we enjoyed hiking out and looking at the rocks and fish living in the creek. After we added the bees to our livestock, the boys noticed the bees had found a place where the water puddled, creating a place for the bees to drink and collect minerals for the hive. Hence the name, Honeycreek.
Apiary is a general term regarding a collection of beehives.
Apiary is a general term regarding a collection of beehives.