Hand Hewn Farm

The farm's journey began in 2009 when the Lanes and the Whartons started homesteading in Knox County. In 2014, they moved to the Patterson family farm in Tuscarawas County, a property with a rich history dating back to 1950 when Bob and Frieda Patterson purchased 160 acres of rolling hills. Originally a dairy farm, it has since been transformed into a hub for livestock and educational workshops.

The farm employs a permanent agricultural system, prioritizing the health and well-being of their animals, which they believe directly impacts the quality of the food produced. They focus on creating an ecologically diverse environment, integrating food-producing tree crops to feed both animals and humans with minimal fossil fuel inputs. The farm also repurposed a defunct milking parlor into a butcher shop classroom and kitchen, emphasizing the importance of community and skill-building.

In addition to farming, the farm offers classes in pork and rabbit butchery, cookery, and curing, providing hands-on, farm-based experiences. These workshops are designed for farmers, homesteaders, foodies, and chefs, and often involve several days of intense learning, feasting, and camaraderie. The farm's methods are inspired by historic culinary and preservation techniques, and they continue to learn from skilled farmers, ecologists, and chefs.