Still Growing After 150 Years

There's something special about a place that has been here for generations. The people change, the seasons come and go, but the land remains.

Green Valley Farm has been part of the landscape in Hanover, Pennsylvania, since 1875. Its history stretches even further, with property records dating back to 1767. In January 2024, we purchased the 58-acre farm with a commitment to preserving its agricultural heritage and ensuring that it remains a farm for generations to come.

I grew up with an appreciation for old things, not simply because of their age, but because of the stories they carry. Old houses, well-made furniture, family recipes, gardens planted by people who are no longer here. I've always believed these things deserve to be cared for rather than replaced.

That philosophy is very much at the heart of Green Valley Farm.

Over the past few years, I've begun restoring the landscape, planting an orchard of 35 heirloom apple trees, establishing formal peony gardens, and creating a woodland shade garden filled with hostas, ferns, and other perennials. There are plans for more gardens, additional fruit trees, and spaces where visitors can experience the farm throughout the seasons.

Some projects will take a few years. Others will take decades. That's part of the pleasure of gardening. You're always working toward something you may not see fully realized for quite some time.

While I spend much of my working life in Dallas, my heart is very much here in Pennsylvania. I find enormous satisfaction in planning a garden, researching an old variety of apple, bringing something back to life, or simply spending an afternoon working on the property.

I've created The Farm Journal as a place to document these experiences and share them with friends of the farm. Along the way, you'll find stories from family, friends, and occasional guest contributors about the gardens, the history of the property, seasonal cooking, decorating, entertaining, and the ongoing work of preserving a historic American farm.

I hope it becomes a record of the farm's evolution, something to look back on years from now and see just how much has changed.

After all, 150 years is only the beginning.

The Ag Building on the eve of the Farm’s 150th Anniversary celebration