Once Upon A Time

Eighteen years ago, we moved from the sunny shores of Long Beach, California, to a place I had never seen before—Oak Spring Farm in Freeland, Maryland.

I remember reading a map, yep, an actual paper map, guiding my sister-in-law to my new house. I was excited and apprehensive and exhausted all at once. 

Moving across the country, I was leaving behind a life in education, a close-knit friend group, and an all-around lovely life. It was a big leap, a return to our roots. Both of us were from the East Coast and after the birth of our second child, we wanted to be closer to family. 

The farm’s 1903 farmhouse, with its weathered barn and the telltale marks of four boys raised there over 25 years, needed love and a little bit of “fixing up.” When we arrived, we were met with the charm of country living—and a bathroom so worn that three deep-cleaning sessions later, the scent still lingered. Not quite the pristine farmhouse I’d imagined, but it was ours. I stood there with my two little ones, Sam, who was three, and Henry, my baby who had just begun to crawl, and thought, “We’re home.”

Settling in

My goal was simple: to nourish my family with good food and enjoy the life that the land could provide (and get horses again, HA). But, as any farm dreamer can relate, it’s never as simple as it seems. After a trip to the local grocery store where I turned my nose up at what they considered fresh produce, I knew I had to grow my own. Remember, living in California I had access to beautiful farmers’ markets nearly every day of the week with fresh, abundant produce.

Luckily, my father-in-law, an avid home gardener, rototilled a plot of land by the house for my very first kitchen garden. I started small, but quickly became obsessed with the satisfaction of growing food that would end up on our family’s table.

It wasn’t long before I had expanded that little kitchen garden to the point where I was feeding my family “all Oak Spring meals all the time,” with fresh produce, eggs, and even lamb meat. It was a real farm-to-table setup, right in our own backyard. My mother-in-law taught me to can, and soon our basement was full of everything from pickles to jam. My little family “farmette” was bustling, but it also came with a surprise: our zoning required active agricultural use of the land. To most, that might seem daunting, but to me, it was an open door into a new world of possibilities.

Getting Passionate

So, I got serious. My family recommended starting small with just six chickens, but, naturally, I bought 25. Before long, we were overrun with eggs. Friends and neighbors loved them, and word spread quickly. When we weren’t keeping up with the “egg economy” on the quiet country road, I decided to market to the local moms’ club, since I was already a member. Many families were looking for fresh eggs and homegrown produce.

I started selling small “shares” of produce to local moms, and that’s when things took off. The garden budget was on the rise, and I was balancing being a mom with this growing venture but seeing other families excited to share in our harvests fueled the fire. The simple act of sharing the farm’s bounty with the community gave me a taste of something even more fulfilling than the “farm-to-family” approach I had started with. Oak Spring Farm was growing into something real, something that could serve and nourish more than just my family.

A Business Was Born

That first “CSA” was born, and it was more exciting than I could have imagined. As much as I loved being a mom I was missing the hustle of professional life. My small farm business sparked a passion in me and filled a desire to serve my community. Today, Oak Spring Farm is a thriving CSA that serves families, foodies, and busy moms like I once was, trying to balance it all. It brings me joy to provide fresh, organic produce to our members every season and watch new faces join, excited to be part of a community centered around healthy, local food.

As my farm and family have grown, so has my dream of helping others find their own transformation. I know there are moms out there who, like me, want to grow food, nurture their families, and make an impact. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to guide and mentor others, and that’s now part of my journey too. Seeing others take that leap fills me with pride, knowing they’re following their dream of a sustainable, balanced life.

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If this story speaks to you, or if you know someone who might find encouragement in this journey, I’d love for you to share this post.

For those of you inspired to make a similar transformation and dive into the world of farming or starting a CSA, let’s chat! Schedule a discovery call to see if you’re a good fit for farm coaching. I’d be honored to be part of your journey, from garden dreams to farm reality.

🌱Feel Free to reach out and keep an eye out for my new course debuting early 2025. Reach out to get on the waiting list at Lisa@oakspring-farm.com