Quarry Hill Farm Taking Pride in Quality, Organic Vittles

Down a country road and up a hilly drive, complete with idyllic views of surrounding farms, sits an oddity for the area — a huge, newly-constructed barn. 

As more and more farms are being sold for development, Quarry Hill Farm is seeking to fill a niche for area residents.  

Gourmet chefs and those striving to eat in a healthier, more nutritious fashion will find just what they are looking for at Quarry Hill Farm, located on Quarry Road in Lower Salford. 

The farm has membership in the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) and Pennsylvania Preferred; they will soon be organically certified.  

The farm is all organic, and in addition to the vegetables that they grow, they produce what is referred to as “small protein," which consists of chickens, rabbits, guinea hens, lamb, and turkey. Suckling pork and fish will be added in the future. 

Fresh eggs collected from their flock of Heritage chickens are available along with other items from their farm including hand-picked berries, herbs, and seasonal items such as pumpkins.

Vegetables that were available on the day visited consisted of heirloom tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, onions, green beans and mushrooms. 

Quarry Hill also carries locally-produced, quality goods such as honey and honey products, baked goods, artisanal breads, cheeses and nuts. 

The original farmland that Quarry Hill Farm now occupies was deeded to Jacob Reiff and has always been used for agricultural purposes in either dairy or crop farming.  Present owners Scott Clemens and Sloane Six moved into their house in 1999 and then purchased 103 acres from a developer in 2007. 

At that time, they decided to take a different approach to farming and switch to sustainable, organic farming.  The farm has been placed in the farmland preservation program, insuring its farmland status into perpetuity.  

“We wanted to feed our family and share with others,” said Six.  “We want to be known for our quality, and we want to show that you can farm and still have the property look nice and attractive.” 

The Barn Market, which opened in April, operates out of the upper, hayloft portion of the large, new barn while the lower portion serves as the processing area for their farm-raised small protein products.  Customers may either call or drop in to order products from the market, as pick up and wait times vary according to growing cycles.

Six is a breast cancer survivor, and she believes that the food that we eat has a direct bearing on our health and well-being.  She stated that eating organic has given her more energy and has helped her to maintain a healthy weight.  

Orders were being taken for chickens — which are processed 10 at a time — guinea hens — which have a flavor in between chicken and ducks — and rabbits.  Turkey orders will be taken closer to the holidays.  

Quarry Hill Farm prides itself on raising healthy, happy animals.  They live a carefree life out in the pasture where they do not consume any chemicals and are grass fed — as nature intended.  This lifestyle leads not only to healthier stock, but also to a more nutritional product. 

“We strive to create a stress-free, healthy environment for our animals where they thrive in a natural environment and natural diets,” Six said.  “Our animals are given the best of care, lots of love, sunshine, and exercise every day.”

The livestock is protected naturally by rescued barn cats, eight rescued Great Pyrenees dogs, and several donkeys that faithfully watch over the stock.   

The farm has hosted several special events this summer including a five-course dinner party near their waterfall utilizing their farm-fresh products. 

Plans are underway to host a Farm to Fork event on August 21 which will be family friendly with tours of the farm, kid’s events, and a picnic with a pork barbeque.  

For more information about the farm and upcoming events visit their website at www.quarryhillfarm.net, email them at sloan6@verizon.net, or call 215-513-1514.

Their store hours are Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by appointment.