Smoke Camp Crafts

Weston, West Virginia

“Farming really is a way of creating an alternative to our current situation. West Virginia produces very little of its own food, we import most of our food and it feels good to be able to start to bridge that gap and become more self-sufficient.”

— Kara Vaneck

The name of the farm: Smoke Camp Crafts
Farm Location: Weston, WV
Miles from the Public Market: 132 Miles
Size of the farm: 1 ½ acre under cultivation—a total of 55 acres

Why did you become a farmer?
My good friend’s mother ran this business and we got along really well. In 2013, I started to learn how to run the business from her and took over the business in 2016. My grandma had a garden and she taught me how to grow things when I was a kid. I got really into gardening in high school and worked on a kiwi farm after college. So, I’ve always been drawn to this lifestyle.

  • Hemp

  • Horseradish

  • Hops

  • Tomatoes

  • Cabbage

  • Corn

  • Lavender

  • Mint

  • Pumpkins

  • Gourds

  • Strawberries

  • Blueberries

  • Raspberries

  • Blackberries

  • Various Herbs

What product from your farm are you most proud of?
 

The blueberry cinnamon jam has a really good flavor, and I love to eat it on pancakes. Also stinging nettles, we do a dry nettle leaf tea and it’s so nutritious and tastes good.

How would you describe your farming philosophy?
I try to follow mother nature’s lead. I let plants propagate themselves, and I do no-till with a lot of mulching. I don’t use pesticides if there are weeds. I use a weed eater and mulch. I follow permaculture practices and plant perennials when I can.

 

What do you love most about farm life?
Probably my dog Ruby. In the mornings we get in the car and go to the farm and it is so peaceful. I also love sharing farming with kids. The neighborhood kids visit the farm and I think seeing it inspires them to think about what they eat and where their food comes from.

 

What do you love the least?
That I have to make money farming. People are used to paying less for food and sometimes I feel guilty when I have to try and put a price tag value on my products. The food is so good and it almost cheapens it to place that kind of value on the products. I don’t like having to do marketing for my business

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