Save a Bucks County Organic Farm

Hello Friends and Neighbors,

I am writing as a farmer who has experienced the heartbreaking loss and financial strain associated with running a small farm.  I am also writing as a nurse with a background in public health who understands the importance of small, organic farms in maintaining the economic stability, ecological health and human resiliency needed for thriving, prosperous communities.  Hershberger Heritage Farm of Sellersville, PA is in need after a devastating loss a few weeks ago and is at risk of losing their farm.    Crop insurance does not cover their loss and so I am asking the community to invest in all of our futures by contributing a small (or large) amount if you can.  Our whole community is grateful for the work that they do and the food that they provide for so many of us.  It's an honor to be able give back to them in their time of need! -Linda Shanahan of Barefoot Botanicals.



Here is their story in their words:

Hello,

We are Nathan and Shelah Layton. We own Hershberger Heritage Farm in Selllersville, PA. We decided to start a Certified Organic pasture raised livestock farm in 2014 when we couldn't find the kind of quality of meat that our community deserves. We have since been the only certified organic and pasture raised livestock farm in Bucks County offering Chicken, Pork, Beef, Eggs and Lamb. We started the farm on our own life savings, including selling our home. Our Community has continued to grow since the first year with currently hundreds of families participating in our CSA. After 4 years of keeping the farm going we have not yet turned a profit making 2018 a crucial year for the farm. It is a make or break year for us. Unfortunately, we have been struck with the devastation of loosing hundreds of laying hens in a storm. Never have we ever experienced such a loss of our egg layers before, and this couldn't have come at a worse time. We are in the peak of our season. We work hard all year to get to this season, and to make sure we have all our wholesale and retail avenues secure to move the amount of eggs the layers are giving us as it is their peak season for laying as well. The lives of our animals is our livelihood, and we need your help...

We have enjoyed being Bucks County's only source for Organic Pasture raised meat and eggs and would love the opportunity to continue to provide for our community this way. Big Ag has taken it's toll on our country and we want to make a difference where we can by raising food that we are proud to serve to not only your family, children, but (God willing) your grandchildren too!

There are a few different ways to support us:

1. Please consider purchasing a CSA ((Community Supported Agriculture) in which you invest up front in farm product, allowing farmers to have working capital when they need it most-before the products make it to market.  You can find out more about our CSA options here: https://www.hhf.farm/

2. Subscribing to our home delivery program 'Berger Box'
(serving Bucks and Montgomery County only): https://www.hhf.farm

3. Gofundme campaign 

The immediate loss of laying hens was $13,000 dollars in just the mature laying chickens alone with an additional loss of $36,000 in future revenue in egg sales. We now must replace those hens and wait another 5 months before the flock starts laying their first eggs. This process is tedious with the high cost certified organic feed and the large amount of labor required to tend to a flock this size.

Any help, in the form of CSA purchases or donation in any amount, will help us get our footing again.

Gratefully,

Shelah and Nathan Layton