Last year, the first Mountaineer Country Farm Crawl brought out area families to see what true farm life is all about. Increased interest and feedback have resulted in a second annual event. Locals are invited to visit participating farms 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27, 2025.
“Last year was a great success,” said Jenn Brown, organizer. “Our farm had 175 visitors during the two-day farm crawl, and two of our farm stops had over 300 visitors. I think a lot of people had no idea what to expect and they were excited to see what real farm life is like.”
Brown and her family operate Turtle on a Post Farm on Middletown Road. In addition to various produce, the farm grows and harvests hops and sells it to area breweries. Joining Turtle on a Post in this year’s farm crawl are FernFaye (flower) Farm in Marion County, On Eagles Wings Therapeutic Horsemanship in Marion County, Wild Goats Farm in Clarksburg, Mountain Harvest Farm in Morgantown, and Flower Therapy Flower Company of Morgantown which will feature the Farmers Market Association inflatable education tunnel. Others participating are Sweet Harvest (baked goods) which will have a stand at Turtle on a Post Farm, where an Herbal Foraging Class will also be offered. That Yoga Studio will offer 15-minute yoga sessions at FernFaye Farm. Operation Welcome Home and The Rotary Club of Morgantown North’s Pollinator Project will serve as event sponsors.
The event is intended to connect people with their local food system and the people behind that effort. The weekend will include farm tours, demos and hands-on activities. Farmers will also share their own stories and show guests the nitty gritty behind farm life. There has been a renewed interest in farm-to-table methods, Brown said.
“The old ways of preserving food and living off the land are starting to come back,” she said. “When COVID hit, it pushed some people to figure out another way to take care of their families rather than relying on commercial stores. Also, in general, we’re seeing the younger generation going back to a more health-conscious way of life, using herbs and not so many pharmaceuticals.”
The herbalist that will be at Turtle on a Post Farm during farm crawl weekend is wealth of knowledge when it comes to depending upon what the earth grows for nutrition and medicinal purposes, Brown said.
Turtle on a Post continues to be successful growing and harvesting hops and this year will be adding 50 apple trees.
“We are trying really hard to show all our West Virginia friends with crazy landscapes that they can still farm,” she said. “We are going to figure it out and make it work. It should be fun to see.”
Learn more about the 2025 Mountaineer Country Farm Crawl HERE.