We started raising backyard chickens in 2008.
Our first flock began with a small clutch of Silkie bantams, and we were all in from there.
| Geraldine, Azalea, Yip, and Sebastian |
Several years later at our first home in Burtonsville, we decided to start a small commercial flock and began by selling eggs to friends and family.
| Happy hens grazing on clover and ryegrass |
Chickens became a very serious part of our lifestyle.
| It was a constant celebration |
Seriously, they were everywhere you looked.
| The young matriarch, Parsnip |
A few more years passed — we bought a house across town, painted it yellow, and put a couple kids in it.
| Mer, Guy, Ada, and Paul at our home named “Lemon House” |
It was in early 2020 that Lemon House Farm was officially established.
| The stickers make it real |
We developed an egg layer operation based on a mobile coop system, which enables us to provide the flock with fresh grazing ground every day.
| The mobile coop is designed to be big enough for up to fifty birds while easily moved by one person. |
We provide the flock with a locally grown and milled feed containing all the essential nutrients and minerals that the chickens need to stay healthy and happy.
| Ada loves filling the feeder with Ernst “Homestead Harvest” Non-GMO feed, and some tasty herbs and edible flowers to boot |
In return they give us beautiful rainbow eggs that are the best you’ve ever tasted.
| The breeds we keep lay a wide range of colorful eggs, including light blue, olive green, and speckled cherry red |
We even have a few geese who were raised with the hens as peeps to guard the flock from potential predators.
| Abigail and Amelia, in lock step |
We are also seriously committed to providing diligent and individualized care to our feathered friends at any sign of illness or distress.
| Patching up David Bowie’s boo-boo foot |
In future years we plan to add new flocks to our operation, while expanding the footprint of the farm onto new land for pasture.
| Our heritage breed chickens come from a hatchery as chicks, while we do often provide sanctuary to rescue birds in need of care and a home |
When a flock reaches retirement, the old birds move into the “Leisure Coop,” and get heckin’ good care for the remainder of their natural lives.
| Most of our retirement birds range in age from 3-6 years |
Each chicken has a name and a story — like Parsnip, a Wheaten Marans who earned “Matriarch” status as our most aged hen.
| Parsnip turns nine years old in 2023 |
The next phase of growth for the farm will be establishing a specialty cut flower enterprise.
| We will specialize in seasonal fresh bouquets and floral design services |
We have been practicing for years, both as a hobby and professionally in our jobs, where we’ve developed our skills as growers.
| Guy is the Farm Manager of Terp Farm, a 3 acre vegetable and flower farm operated by UMD Dining, while Mer teaches Sustainable Agriculture, and manages a campus food garden |
We’ll also sell locally curated pantry products, like honey, jams, pickles, baked goods, herbs, natural soaps, and more.
| Something that is really important to us has been the community of growers, producers, makers, and creators we’ve come to be a part of in Maryland and the Chesapeake region |