If you usually visit local farms for fresh fruit, pick-your-own peaches, berries, apples, farm stand fruit, or better prices straight from the farm, this year may feel different.

You may find less fresh local fruit available.

Some pick-your-own farms may have shorter seasons, fewer crops, or no picking for certain fruits.

Farm stands may have less fruit than usual.

Some fruit may come from farther away than expected.

And some fruit may be more expensive.

That can be disappointing, especially when fresh fruit is part of your summer rhythm. Maybe your family always goes berry picking. Maybe you wait all year for local peaches. Maybe fall apples are part of your school-lunch routine. Maybe you count on farm stands for fresher fruit at a better price.

This year, the fruit season changed before most customers even started looking for fruit.

The short answer is this:

A hard April freeze hit Pennsylvania after warm weather had already pushed many fruit trees into bloom.

For an orchard, that timing matters. The blossom is the fruit. If the blossom is killed, the peach, cherry, plum, pear, or apple does not simply come later in the summer. In many cases, that crop is gone until next year.

Why is fresh fruit harder to find in the Lehigh Valley this year?

Fresh fruit is harder to find this year because many Pennsylvania orchards were damaged by an April freeze.

The Lehigh Valley was affected too.

The freeze hit after a warm spell had already encouraged many fruit trees to wake up early. Blossoms and tiny fruit had started developing. Then freezing temperatures returned.

That combination is especially damaging for fruit trees.

A dormant tree can usually handle cold. A tree in bloom is much more vulnerable. Once the blossoms are open or the tiny fruit has started to form, a hard freeze can kill the crop in just a few hours.

That is why this year’s fruit shortage is not just a delayed season.

It is a crop-loss season.

How does an April freeze affect summer and fall fruit?

Because the blossom is the fruit.

When a peach tree, cherry tree, plum tree, pear tree, or apple tree blooms, those flowers are the beginning of the fruit you hope to eat later in the season.

If the blossoms freeze, the fruit is gone.

The tree does not simply bloom again a few weeks later and produce a normal crop.

That is why a freeze in April changes what you see in July, August, September, and October.

The loss happens quietly. There is no dramatic storm. No flood. No fire. Just cold temperatures at the wrong time.

But the effect lasts all season.

Why are pick-your-own farms closed or limited this year?

Pick-your-own fruit depends on having enough fruit for families to come into the fields or orchards and harvest.

When a farm loses most of a fruit crop, it may not have enough fruit to open for pick-your-own at all. Or it may open for a shorter season, with fewer dates, fewer varieties, or limits on how much each family can pick.

This year, customers looking for pick-your-own fruit in the Lehigh Valley should check each farm’s current crop updates before going.

You may find:

• No pick-your-own for certain crops
• Shorter picking windows
• Smaller quantities
• Higher prices
• Limits per family
• Farm stands open but with less local fruit
• Fruit sourced from trusted partner farms
• More emphasis on berries, vegetables, flowers, pumpkins, baked goods, or fall events

That does not mean farms are being unreliable. It means the freeze damage was real, and each farm is adjusting to what survived.

Gogle Farms in Coplay: no normal pick-your-own this year

Gogle Farms in Coplay is one of the clearest local examples of what this freeze means for families who usually go to farms for fresh fruit and pick-your-own.

Gogle Farms shared that their farm stand and pick-your-own will not be open as normal this year because of the spring freeze.

They explained that warm days in early April pushed the blossoms on the fruit trees. Then, by April 21, they had two nights at 26 degrees. That is more than a frost. That is below freezing.

Their note explains that the fruit at the base of the blossoms froze, destroying the crop.

They also explained something many customers do not realize:

Fruit trees make their buds only one time a year.

The fruit buds for this year were made during the growing season last year. Once those buds are lost, there is not enough fruit to simply restart the season.

For Gogle Farms, that means there will not be enough fruit to offer pick-your-own this year, and they will not have a pumpkin patch this year.

That is a hard message from a local farm family to the community that loves visiting them.

It is also one of the best examples of why fresh fruit and pick-your-own will feel different in the Lehigh Valley this year.

Bechdolt Orchards near Hellertown: severe fruit loss

Bechdolt Orchards near Hellertown is another local example of how serious the damage has been.

Local reporting shared that Bechdolt Orchards estimated 100% loss on apricots and about 90% overall crop loss.

When an orchard loses that much fruit, customers feel it later in the season.

There may be fewer peaches.

Fewer cherries.

Fewer plums.

Fewer apples.

Less fruit at farm stands.

Less fruit available for wholesale.

Less fruit available for CSA-style shares, farm boxes, and local markets.

And the farm still has to care for the orchard.

That is one of the hardest parts for fruit growers. Even when the crop is gone, the trees still need to be cared for so there can be a crop next year.

Scholl Orchards in Kempton: fighting for a degree or two

Scholl Orchards in Kempton shows another side of the story.

Farmers did not simply stand by and watch the freeze happen.

Scholl Orchards used multiple frost-protection efforts, including propane heaters, wind machines, anti-frost gel candles, nutrient sprays, and fans to move cold air.

That is a lot of work.

And sometimes it only gains a degree or two.

But in fruit farming, a degree or two can matter.

The problem this year was that the cold was not just a light frost. It was a hard freeze after fruit had already moved into a vulnerable stage.

Even with protective steps, local fruit growers still experienced damage and losses.

That matters for customers to understand. When fruit is limited or expensive, it is not because farmers did not try. Many of them worked through cold nights, used expensive tools and fuel, and still lost fruit.

What fruit crops were hit hardest in Pennsylvania?

Across Pennsylvania, the hardest-hit crops include many of the fruits customers wait for all year:

• Peaches
• Nectarines
• Apricots
• Cherries
• Plums
• Apples
• Pears

Some farms may still have some fruit. Some farms may have partial crops. Some may have later apples. Some may have berries that came through better than tree fruit. [ https://www.psu.edu/news/agricultural-sciences/story/pennsylvania-fruit-growers-face-catastrophic-losses-after-historic]

But the overall picture is clear: Pennsylvania fruit is limited this year.

That means the local fruit season will not be as abundant or predictable as usual.

What about berries?

Berries are a little more mixed.

Some berry crops came through better than tree fruit. Some farms may still have strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries. Other farms may have lighter crops or shorter seasons depending on location, variety, and freeze damage.

So if you are searching for fresh berries or pick-your-own berries in the Lehigh Valley, the best thing to do is check with each farm directly.

There may still be berries.

But the season may not look exactly like a normal year.

Will there be local peaches in the Lehigh Valley this year?

Peaches are one of the fruits customers are most likely to miss.

Peach trees bloom early enough that they can be very vulnerable to a late freeze. When those blossoms are damaged, the peach crop can be severely reduced or lost.

So if you are wondering why local peaches are harder to find, why pick-your-own peaches may not be available, or why farm stand peaches cost more, this is the reason.

The crop was damaged in April, long before peach season arrived.

What about apples?

Apples may still be available from some farms later in the season, but the crop may be lighter, less predictable, or more limited in variety.

That means fall apple picking may vary a lot by farm.

Some orchards may have apples.

Some may have fewer varieties.

Some may have a shorter season.

Some may source apples from trusted partner farms to keep their farm market supplied.

If apples are part of your fall routine, check farm updates before making plans.

Why farm stands may not have the prices people expect

Many people expect farm stands to have the freshest fruit and the best prices.

In a normal year, that’s often true. But in a crop-loss year, the economics change.

When a farm loses most of its fruit crop, it doesn’t lose most of its expenses. The trees still need care — mowing, pruning, pest management, equipment, fuel, labor. The farm still has to protect the orchard for next year’s crop.

At the same time, there’s less fruit to sell. That means local fruit may be more expensive this year, even at farm stands. Higher prices aren’t a sign farmers are taking advantage — they’re a sign there’s less fruit while many costs remain

Does sourced fruit mean it is not good fruit?

No. In a hard crop year, many farms source fruit from trusted partner farms — it may be the only way to keep fruit available.

If you visit a farm stand this year, it’s okay to ask: ‘Was this fruit grown here?’ or ‘Where is this fruit from?’ A good farm will tell you.

Sourced fruit isn’t a bad thing. This year, it’s helping farms stay open and keep customers supplied while they wait for next year’s crop.

What does this mean for Market Box fruit bundles?

For Willow Haven Farm customers, here is what you can expect:

There will still be fruit this summer, but probably less than usual.

Some fruit may come from farther away than we normally prefer.

Some fruit may cost more.

Some weeks may feel different from what you expected.

When fruit is limited, we will put fruit into fruit bundles first. If there is extra fruit available after that, we will offer it to other customers as availability allows.

Farmer Reuben will still source from our trusted fruit partners and get whatever they are able to provide.

We source from Weaver’s Orchard when they have fruit available for us. Weaver’s has also shared that their crops will look different this year because of the April freeze.

We also get apples through Lancaster Farm Fresh. We are confident in Lancaster Farm Fresh’s sourcing model, which includes working with partner farms to responsibly source fruit and vegetables when needed.

In a year like this, sourcing may need to stretch farther than usual.

That is not our first preference. But it may be what allows us to keep fruit available in your bundles when local fruit is limited.

How we label fruit: organic, IPM, and trusted sourcing

We will continue to source fruit from farms using organic and regenerative practices as much as we can.

As always, we will clearly label what we are offering.

Not all of the fruit we provide is certified organic, and we do not want you guessing.

If fruit is organic, we will label it organic.

If it is not organic but is grown using IPM, we will label it IPM.

IPM means Integrated Pest Management. It means the grower uses careful monitoring and a mix of pest-control practices, and sprays may be used when needed.

It is not the same as certified organic, so we will continue to tell you clearly which is which.

Why grocery stores may look different from local farms

Grocery stores can hide a local crop failure by sourcing fruit from anywhere.

That does not mean grocery stores are doing something wrong. It just means the grocery system is built differently. If Pennsylvania peaches are scarce, a grocery store may bring peaches from another state or another country.

Local farms and farm markets are closer to the real season.

That is one reason local food is so meaningful. You get to taste what is actually happening in the place where you live.

But in a year like this, that also means you feel the loss.

Local food teaches us that food does not come from a shelf. It comes from soil, weather, blossoms, pollinators, workers, families, and farms that take risks every season.

How you can support Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania fruit growers this year

The best way to support local farms this year is to keep buying what they do have.

That may mean berries instead of peaches.

Vegetables instead of cherries.

Apples later in the season instead of the full variety you are used to.

Flowers, pumpkins, jams, baked goods, and farm market groceries.

When you go to a farmers market or farm stand and have the chance to talk to a fruit grower, ask how their orchard is doing this year. Ask where the fruit is from. Ask what they do have available.

And then buy something.

This is the kind of year when every purchase matters.

The bigger lesson from this fruit season

This year’s fruit shortage is disappointing. We will miss the Pennsylvania peaches too.

But this is also a chance to understand local food more honestly.

Some years the season gives generously.

Some years the weather takes a lot.

And in those hard years, our job as a community is to stay connected to the farms that feed us.

At Willow Haven Farm, we will keep sourcing the best fruit we can, as transparently as we can. We will keep telling you what is local, what is organic, what is IPM, and what is coming from trusted partner farms.

Thank you for trusting us to tell you the truth about your food.

Ready to taste the farm?
Scroll down to start with the Best of the Farm Sampler, or start your free farm account with a Fruit Bundle subscription.

We’ll keep farming for you!

Reuben and Tessa DeMaster
Willow Haven Farm

Want fresh fruit delivered?

 Willow Haven Farm still has limited fruit available through our weekly market bundles. Start simple with a Best of the Farm Sampler, add a Fruit Bunde Subscription if you want first access to the best local fruit.

Start with the Sampler

Add a Fruit Subscription

Quick answers about fresh fruit and pick-your-own in the Lehigh Valley

Why is fresh fruit limited in the Lehigh Valley this year?

Fresh fruit is limited because a hard April freeze damaged fruit blossoms after many trees had already started blooming. When blossoms are killed, much of that fruit crop is gone for the season.

Why are pick-your-own farms closed or limited this year?

Pick-your-own farms need enough fruit for families to harvest. If the crop is too small, farms may cancel picking, shorten the season, limit quantities, or focus on other crops and farm stand products.

Will there be pick-your-own peaches in the Lehigh Valley this year?

Availability will vary by farm, but many orchards had serious peach and stone fruit losses. Check each farm’s crop updates before visiting.

Will there be fresh berries this year?

There may still be berries, depending on the farm and crop. Berries were affected differently than tree fruit, so check each farm’s current updates for strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.

Will there be local apples this fall?

Some farms may still have apples, but the crop may be lighter, less predictable, or more limited in variety. Apple picking may vary by orchard.

Why is farm stand fruit more expensive this year?

There is less fruit available, but farms still have many of the same costs, including labor, tree care, equipment, fuel, pest management, and farm stand operations, even if they don’t have a crop this year.

Does sourced fruit mean it is not good fruit?

No. In a hard crop year, farms and co-ops may source from trusted partner farms to keep fruit available. The important thing is transparency about where the fruit came from and how it was grown.

Will Willow Haven still have fruit bundles?

Yes, we expect to have fruit, but availability may be limited, less predictable, and possibly more expensive. When fruit is limited, fruit bundles will be filled first.

What should I ask at a farm stand this year?

Ask where the fruit was grown, how the orchard was affected by the freeze, and what products the farm does have available. Then support the farm by buying what they can offer this year.

Local strawberries are almost here in the Lehigh Valley, but in Pennsylvania, the season can be over faster than a fox running off with a pastured chicken.

Depending on the weather, we usually get about three good weeks of local strawberries. And most of the berries come right in the middle of that short window.

So if you’re thinking, “Oh good, I’ll grab some when I see them,” I want you to know how this really works.

Wanting strawberries doesn’t save strawberries.

The best local fruit goes quickly.

And strawberries are one of those foods people get emotionally attached to.

• That first bowl on the table
• Kids eating them before you even get them washed and put away
• Strawberry shortcake after supper
• A few quarts tucked into the freezer because you know you’ll want that taste again when the season is gone

It’s the kind of food that reminds you why you bother with local food in the first place.

Because when a strawberry is picked ripe, grown close by, and eaten in season, it tastes like something you waited for.

Why Local Strawberries Are Worth Waiting For

Here in Pennsylvania, strawberries don’t behave like grocery store strawberries.

They don’t show up every week of the year in a plastic clamshell, looking exactly the same no matter what month it is.

Real strawberries come when they are ready.

They come when the weather cooperates. When the blossoms survive. When the soil, the sun, and the farmer have all done their part.

Some years, the season starts a little earlier. Some years, we wait.

A hard frost can damage the earliest blossoms. Too much rain can shorten the harvest. Heat can push the season along faster than expected.

That is part of eating local food.

It is not manufactured on demand. It is grown in real weather, in real soil, by real farmers.

And that is exactly why it tastes different.

Where Our Local Strawberries Come From

A few years ago, we stopped growing our own strawberries here at Willow Haven Farm.

It was just too disappointing for our kids to weed a 300-foot row of strawberry plants… only to have the deer devour them.

Okay. Farmer Reuben may have been the most disappointed.

But someday, when we get a deer fence installed, the first thing he wants to plant is strawberries.

And then carrots.

But all is not lost.

Our strawberries come from Farmer Leroy at Misty Acres Farm in Kutztown.

And they are delicious.

He grows early berries in his greenhouse and field berries when the season really opens up.

Farmer Leroy was certified organic until recently, and he even had Real Organic Project certification too. The paperwork changed, but his growing practices did not.

He is still growing the clean, delicious, sustainable food he has always grown.

That matters with strawberries.

Many of us have learned to be careful about where our strawberries come from. Strawberries are delicate. We eat them fresh. And when your kids are standing at the counter eating them by the handful, you want to feel good about the farm they came from.

That is why we are so grateful to work with nearby growers like Farmer Leroy at Misty Acres Farm. It lets us bring more truly local, seasonal fruit to families here in the Lehigh Valley.

When Will Local Strawberries Be Ready?

Most years, Memorial Day is the safest bet for the beginning of our local strawberry season.

But every year is a little different.

This year, that hard, cold frost in April damaged blossoms and seedlings across our region. The first strawberry blossoms — the ones that would have given us the earliest berries — were killed off.

So now we wait for the second round of blossoms to grow and ripen.

That is the rule with local strawberries:

Get them while you can. Stock up if you can. Because the strawberries in the grocery store the rest of the year never compare.

And if you want the best ones, you can’t shop for them like grocery store food.

You can’t wait around and assume they will be there whenever you get around to it.

That does not mean you have to stand in line at a farm stand at sunrise.

It just means you need a better plan.

Don’t Forget the Rhubarb

Strawberries get all the attention, but rhubarb is the quiet spring ingredient that makes strawberry season even better.

Rhubarb is in season now. And the nice thing about rhubarb is that its season usually lasts longer than strawberries. It also stores better, so you can buy rhubarb ahead and keep it ready for when the strawberries finally arrive.

That means when those first local berries show up, you are already halfway to something wonderful:

• Strawberry rhubarb pie
• Strawberry rhubarb jam
• Strawberry rhubarb cake
• Strawberry rhubarb crisp
• A simple stovetop sauce for yogurt, pancakes, or ice cream

There is something old-fashioned and comforting about the combination.

Strawberries bring the sweetness. Rhubarb brings that bright, tart flavor that makes the whole thing taste like spring.

So if you see rhubarb before strawberries arrive, don’t overlook it.

Tuck some away.

Your future pie-baking, jam-making, shortcake-serving self may thank you.

How to Make the Most of Local Strawberries Once You Get Them

When local strawberries arrive, use them quickly.

Truly ripe berries are more tender than grocery store berries because they were picked for flavor, not long-distance shipping.

Here’s how to make the most of them:

• Keep them cold
• Don’t wash them until you are ready to eat them
• Make shortcake
• Slice some over yogurt
• Tuck a few quarts into the freezer
• Pull out your rhubarb for pie, jam, cake, crisp, or a simple stovetop sauce

If you want to freeze strawberries, wash, hull, and spread them on a tray first so they freeze individually before you pack them into bags.

The season is too short to be precious with them.

Eat them. Share them. Save a few for later if you can.

The Easiest Way to Start Ordering from Willow Haven Farm

If you’re new to Willow Haven Farm, you don’t have to figure everything out at once.

You don’t have to know every vegetable. You don’t have to plan a perfect week of meals. You don’t even have to understand our whole online farm market the first time you order.

Start with the Best of the Farm Sampler.

It gives you a simple, seasonal mix of real food from our farm and our trusted local partners, so you can taste what makes Willow Haven Farm different before you build a bigger weekly habit.

Think of it as a first step into local food that feels simple instead of overwhelming.

• You get a taste of the farm
• You get food your family can actually use
• You start building a local food rhythm that makes eating well easier week after week

Because that is the real goal.

A better source of food, a simple habit, and a farm family you can trust.

Then, if strawberries are one of the foods you wait for all year, add a Fruit Subscription.

A Fruit Subscription gives you first access to the best in-season fruit when it comes in — including Farmer Leroy’s strawberries from Misty Acres Farm in Kutztown.

It simply saves your fruit spot first. Then you can still build the rest of your Market Box around what your family needs that week.

Weekly and biweekly options are both available, so choose the rhythm that fits how you actually order.

Because the best local fruit is limited, fruit subscriptions are meant for families who are actively ordering throughout the season. That helps us keep the best fruit reserved for the members who are really counting on it.

If you only order once in a while, start with the sampler and watch the main shopping page for extras.

But if you want those sweet, sun-ripened, local strawberries saved for your family when they come in, this is the best way to get in line before they arrive.

Ready to taste the farm? Scroll down to start with the Best of the Farm Sampler, or enter the Real Food Giveaway for a chance to win one before strawberry season arrives.

We support your desire to have a good, healthy way of life and organic farm food on your table that supports that goal.

We’ll keep farming for you!

Reuben and Tessa DeMaster
Willow Haven Farm

Start with Real Food from the Farm

New to Willow Haven Farm? Start simple with a Best of the Farm Sampler, add a Fruit Subscription if you want first access to the best local strawberries, or enter our Real Food Giveaway to get connected with the farm.

Start with the Sampler

Add a Fruit Subscription

Not ready to order yet?

Enter the Real Food Giveaway and get connected with the farm. It’s an easy first step if you want to learn more before placing your first Market Box order.

Enter the Real Food Giveaway

That’s what I told my children when I first started learning about essential fatty acids in pastured eggs and grass fed or pastured meat.

When I began to understand omega-3 and omega-6 fats, I realized my family was probably eating far too many high omega-6 foods. I learned that the typical American diet has an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of about 16:1. That means 16 omega-6 fats for every 1 omega-3.

A healthier ratio used to be much closer to 1:1 in the “good old days.”

We had already worked hard to eliminate refined and processed vegetable oils from our diet, but I started asking myself a bigger question:

What else could we do to bring our fats back into balance?

That is when peanut butter got the boot.

Peanuts have far more omega-6 than omega-3, and that certainly was not helping us get back to a healthier balance.

What’s the Difference Between Omega-3 and Omega-6?

Our processed, grain-heavy Western diet tends to be overloaded with omega-6 fats and far too low in omega-3s.

Here’s the simple version:

Omega-6 essential fatty acids are found in the seeds of plants.
Omega-6s tend to be more inflammatory.

Omega-3s are found primarily in plant stems and leaves.
Omega-3s are less inflammatory, and sometimes even anti-inflammatory.

It’s the ratio that matters.

Before industrialization, a ratio of 1:1 was typical of the human diet. Read that as: before food became industrialized, highly processed, and disconnected from the land, people ate a much healthier balance of fats.

Today, Western diets can push that ratio as high as 20:1.

That is a huge shift.

Don’t Let Your 6s Get Out of Control

A good goal to shoot for today is a ratio of about 2–4 omega-6 to 1 omega-3.

In other words, don’t let your 6s get out of control.

This is one of those nutrition lessons that starts to change the way you look at food. Because it’s not just about avoiding “bad ingredients.” It’s also about choosing foods that help restore what is missing.

What Do Your Animals Eat?

But guess what else is often eating too many omega-6 fats?

Most conventionally raised meats you find in the store come from animals fed mostly corn and soy, both abundant sources of omega-6.

And what about the hen that laid your eggs?

Well, first you have to know what your hen is eating.

Is she eating mostly seeds and grains?
Or is she out on pasture eating stems and leaves, bugs and forage, the way chickens were designed to live?

It matters because you eat the food your food eats.

That is one of the most important real food lessons I know.

If your animals are eating a steady diet of high omega-6 feed and never getting out on pasture, that affects the nutrition in the food they produce.

How Pastured Eggs Help Balance Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fats

Can we achieve even a 4:1 ratio?

Not without changing our diets.

But here is the good news: animals can help us.

Pastured farm animals like cows and chickens eat lots of stems and leaves when they live on pasture. They are experts at converting that food into nutrients we need in our own diets.

When farm animals eat plenty of omega-3-rich foods like grass and plants, their meat, milk, and eggs will be higher in omega-3s.

And that means the food on your plate can help move your own diet in a healthier direction.

Hens on pasture produce eggs that have 2.5 times more total omega-3 fatty acids, and less than half the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of conventional eggs.⁽¹⁾

That is not a tiny difference.

That means eating the right eggs can help you start getting your omegas back in balance.

Why We Care So Much About Our Eggs

All of our eggs come from hens raised on pasture, and we do offer a soy-free egg option for families who specifically need that.

For people with soy allergies or sensitivities, these eggs are not just a preference. They can be essential for their health.

Our other eggs still come from hens raised with care on pasture, with feed that is GMO-free and produced without added hormones, pesticides, or vaccines.

Chickens cannot get all their nutritional needs from grass alone, but the more grass and living plants they eat, the better the nutritional profile of their eggs can be. That pasture access is one important reason our eggs are different from conventional eggs.

By avoiding unnecessary soy in our soy-free option and limiting the grain-heavy confinement model that dominates conventional egg production, we can avoid the extreme omega-6 profile that is so common in grocery store eggs.

Of course, you do not want to eliminate omega-6 entirely. You just want to emphasize more omega-3-rich foods in your diet so your ratio comes back into balance.

That is why I stopped buying peanut butter.

And that is why we eat a lot of farm eggs.

Try Them, Try Them, Sam!

So, have you tried real pastured farm eggs?

They are not easy to find in the typical grocery store.

And even when stores do carry specialty eggs, the farmer often receives less than half of what you pay.

That is one reason buying directly from your farmer matters so much. You get fresher food, you know how it was produced, and your dollars go back into raising the kind of food you actually want more of.

Whether you choose our soy-free option or our other pasture-raised eggs, you are getting eggs from hens raised outside on pasture with far more care than the conventional norm.

Not only do real pastured eggs from the farmer taste incredible, they are even better for you than many people realize.

Make one change for the better.

Eat. Real. Pastured. Eggs.

From a farmer you know.

At the end of the day, I am just a mom trying to feed my family well, same as you.

I know how much these small food decisions matter over time.

And I know that sometimes real change starts with something as simple as choosing better eggs.

If this is one small step that helps your family eat better and feel better, then I am grateful to be part of that.

We support your desire to have a good, healthy way of life and organic farm food on your table that supports that goal.

We’ll keep farming for you!

Reuben and Tessa DeMaster
Willow Haven Farm

Bring Real Food from the Farm into Your Kitchen

Start with pastured eggs, then fill your kitchen with nutrient-dense local food from farms that contribute to your health. Shop our online market for eggs, seasonal vegetables, grass-fed meats, wild-caught seafood, and the real-food staples your family deserves.

Shop Eggs

Shop Vegetables

Shop Meat & Seafood

Source

(1) Research from Penn State found that compared with conventional eggs, eggs from pastured hens had more than double the total omega-3 fatty acids and less than half the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Read more here: Penn State summary. Full study here: Cambridge journal article.

Freezer Packs from Willow Haven Farm

Stock your freezer with pasture-raised pork from our family farm in New Tripoli, PA. Our bulk pork freezer packs give you a practical mix of everyday cuts at a better value than buying individual packages.

Pastured Pork Raised Right Here in the Lehigh Valley

If you’ve ever tried to buy pasture-raised pork one package at a time, you know the frustration.

The best cuts sell out.
Prices add up quickly.
And you’re never quite sure what will still be available.

Our bulk pork freezer packs solve that problem.

Instead of hoping your favorite cuts are available each week, you can stock your freezer all at once with a carefully selected variety of pork from our pasture-raised pigs — at a better value than buying individual packages.

Each bundle is designed to give your family the cuts you actually cook with most.

Families who buy pork this way often tell us they wish they had started doing it years ago.

What’s Inside a Willow Haven Farm Pork Freezer Pack

Buying pork in bulk may sound complicated, but we’ve made it simple.

Each freezer pack includes a practical mix of everyday pork cuts your family will actually use, such as:

• Pork chops for quick weeknight dinners
• Ground pork and sausage for skillet meals and breakfast
• Roasts for slow-cooked family dinners
• Bacon and specialty cuts that make farm pork unforgettable

Because these packs are assembled from the pigs we raise, the exact cuts may vary slightly from batch to batch. But every bundle is designed to give you a balanced variety that keeps your freezer stocked with real food.

Choose the Freezer Pack That Fits Your Family

We offer three bulk pork packs so you can stock your freezer at the level that works for your household.

Most families find that the larger bundles offer the best value and keep their freezer stocked for months instead of weeks.

Freezer Basics Pack — 40+ pounds

A great starting point for families who want to begin buying meat in bulk.

This bundle gives you a solid variety of pork cuts and enough meat for many family meals over the next several weeks.

Well-Stocked Freezer Pack — 68+ pounds

This pack gives you a larger assortment of everyday cuts — more chops, more sausage, and more roasts.

Many families find this is the sweet spot for value and variety.

Fully Stocked Freezer Pack — 98+ pounds

This is the best value per pound and the closest option to buying a traditional half pig.

You’ll receive the widest variety of cuts and enough pork to keep your freezer stocked for months.

For families who cook at home regularly, this bundle usually makes the most sense.

Willow Haven Farm Sausage Varieties

Many of our pork packs include handcrafted sausage made from our pasture-raised pork.

Current varieties may include:

• Maple Breakfast sausage links
• Bratwurst
• Kielbasa
• Hot Italian sausage links
• Roasted garlic sausage links

These sausages are incredibly versatile and make quick, flavorful meals for busy families.

Why Families in the Lehigh Valley Choose Willow Haven Farm

At Willow Haven Farm, our pigs are raised outdoors on pasture where they can root, graze, and live naturally.

That difference shows up in the flavor.

Buying pork in bulk also helps families:

• Save money compared to buying individual cuts
• Always have high-quality protein ready for meals
• Avoid last-minute grocery store runs
• Support a local family farm raising food the right way

For many families, choosing pastured pork isn’t just about food — it’s about building a healthier way of life.

What Our Customers Say

Suzanne, one of our farm members, bought a bulk pork pack last year and shared:

“After eating typical store-bought ham most of my life, I am always amazed at the difference when I bite into a Willow Haven Farm ham (or any pork product for that matter). You really can taste the difference! And I know it is safe to eat because of what the pigs were fed and where and how they were raised.”

Once families start cooking with pasture-raised pork, grocery store pork simply doesn’t compare.

How to Reserve Your Pork Freezer Pack

Our pigs are raised in small batches, which means the number of freezer packs available at any one time is limited.

Join the Priority Waitlist – if we have a wait list we’ll link to it here => (not available now)
The waitlist receives first notice when the next batch of pork packs becomes available.

Choose Your Freezer Pack
When reservations open, you’ll select the bundle size that fits your freezer and your family’s needs.

Reserve Your Pack
Secure your pork with a deposit and we’ll hold your bundle from the upcoming processing batch.

Pickup or Delivery
When the pork is ready, you’ll receive pickup information by email.

Enjoy Pastured Pork Year-Round

Even if you miss a bulk pork release, you can still enjoy Willow Haven Farm pork throughout the year.

Our online farm market offers individual cuts whenever they are available, including:

• Pork chops
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Ham slices

You can shop online for pickup or delivery, or visit the Willow Haven Farm General Store in Breinigsville to browse our selection of farm-raised meats and other local foods. Willow Haven Farm Online Shop

We support your desire to have a good, healthy way of life and organic farm food on your table that supports that goal.

We’ll keep farming for you!

Reuben and Tessa DeMaster
Willow Haven Farm

If you’re trying to feed your family well today, food can feel surprisingly complicated.

You want vegetables that are fresh and nourishing. You want meat and dairy from animals raised on pasture. You want food that supports your family’s health instead of working against it.

But when most food travels long distances and is produced on a massive scale, it isn’t always easy to know how that food was produced.

That’s one reason many families in the Lehigh Valley keep turning back to local farms.

When you know your farmer, you can see the fields where your vegetables are grown and learn how cows, chickens, and pigs are managed on pasture.

Our farming is built on a simple idea: healthy soil produces healthier plants.

The word that best describes this approach is regenerative farming.

Regenerative farming focuses on rebuilding soil health and working with natural ecosystems to produce nourishing food.

It isn’t a single technique. It’s a way of farming that works with nature rather than against it.

It’s also the approach we’ve followed here since the beginning.

Willow Haven Farm began in 2009 when Reuben and I started growing food for our own family and a few neighbors who wanted to eat the same way. Over the years our small farm has grown into a place where hundreds of families across the Lehigh Valley now receive vegetables, meats, dairy, bread, and pantry staples from our farm and other local producers we trust.

From the beginning, our goal was simple: nourish people with real food. That meant farming in a way that supports the life of the soil and the health of the plants and animals that depend on it.

Many of the families who now buy food from our farm started in the same place. They were tired of produce that spoiled quickly, frustrated by confusing labels, and looking for a reliable way to bring truly fresh food into their homes each week.

In our very first year of farming, we saw firsthand how much the food we were growing mattered to the families receiving it. Reuben delivered our CSA boxes himself in those early days. Each week he pulled into driveways across the valley carrying a box of vegetables straight from the field to the front door. Over time he became a familiar face to many of the families we served.

One afternoon a stay-at-home mom met him at the door with a smile and said something we still remember today:

“My daughter loves your broccoli… even more than the peaches.”

For any parent who has tried to get a child to eat vegetables, that’s a remarkable statement.

Moments like that helped us understand that we weren’t simply growing crops. We were helping families bring real food into their homes week after week.

That’s why the way food is farmed matters so much. The methods used to grow food shape both the health of the land and the quality of the food that reaches your kitchen.

Farming That Builds the Land Instead of Depleting It

Modern industrial agriculture often treats soil like an empty medium—something that simply holds plants in place while fertilizers and chemicals are added from the outside.

Regenerative farming takes a different approach.

Instead of forcing crops to grow in depleted soil, regenerative farmers focus on restoring the living ecosystem beneath our feet.

Healthy soil is alive. It contains bacteria, fungi, earthworms, insects, organic matter, minerals, and countless microscopic organisms that support plant growth.

When soil is managed well, it holds nutrients more effectively, absorbs water like a sponge, and helps crops withstand drought and weather stress.

Plants grown in living soil are naturally stronger and more resilient.

Regenerative farming begins with this understanding: the health of the soil determines the health of the food that grows from it.

What Regenerative Farming Looks Like at Willow Haven Farm

Regenerative farming isn’t one specific practice. It’s a way of managing the land so the soil becomes healthier year after year.

On our farm, that means paying attention to the living systems that support plant and animal life.

Building Soil With Compost and Organic Matter

Healthy soil depends on organic matter.

Throughout the season we return nutrients to the land by adding compost and incorporating crop residues back into the soil. This feeds the underground community of organisms that support plant growth.

Over time the soil becomes darker, richer, and more biologically active. It holds moisture better and supports stronger plant growth.

Protecting the Soil With Cover Crops

Whenever a field isn’t producing vegetables, we plant cover crops.

These crops aren’t grown for harvest. Their purpose is to protect and rebuild the soil. Cover crops help prevent erosion, suppress weeds, capture nutrients, and add organic matter back into the ground.

Plants like clover, rye, and vetch keep the soil covered and alive during the months when food crops are not growing.

In some fields we even grow large daikon radishes as a cover crop. Their long roots push deep into the soil, breaking up compacted ground and helping bring nutrients closer to the surface for the crops that follow.

Crop Rotation to Maintain Balance

Growing the same crop in the same place every year creates problems for both soil and plants.

Instead, crops move through our fields in a planned rotation. A bed that grows tomatoes one year may grow leafy greens or root crops the next.

Rotation helps balance soil nutrients, reduce pest pressure, and keep the fields productive.

Natural Pest and Disease Management

Rather than relying on routine pesticide use, regenerative farms focus on prevention and balance.

Healthy soil helps plants grow stronger and more resilient. Crop diversity and rotation reduce pest pressure, while beneficial insects help keep pest populations in check.

We also use physical protection when crops need it. In the spring you’ll often see our fields covered with long rows of white fabric gently waving in the breeze. These row covers protect young plants from insects while allowing sunlight, air, and rain to reach the crops.

The goal is not to eliminate nature from the farm, but to work within it.

Pastured Animals as Part of the Farm System

Animals are an important part of regenerative farming.

At Willow Haven Farm, our milk cows, pigs, and chickens all play a role in the health of the farm. They live outdoors on pasture where they can move, graze, and behave naturally.

Through rotational grazing, animals are regularly moved to fresh areas so grasses have time to recover and grow again. This pattern returns nutrients to the soil and strengthens the pasture over time.

When plants, soil, and animals are managed together this way, the entire farm becomes healthier and more productive.

Thoughtful Water Use

Healthy soil holds water more effectively than depleted soil.

Because regenerative farming focuses on building organic matter, our fields absorb rainfall more easily and retain moisture during dry periods.

We also use drip irrigation to deliver water directly to plant roots, allowing crops to receive what they need without wasting water.

The Result: Better Food From Healthier Soil

When soil building, crop rotation, pasture management, composting, and ecological balance all work together, the result is food produced from living, healthy soil.

Vegetables raised in healthy soil often have deeper flavor, better nutritional density, and longer freshness after harvest.

But perhaps even more important, they come from a farming system designed to improve the land rather than exhaust it.

Why Regenerative Farming Matters for Your Family

The choices farmers make directly affect the food that ends up on your table.

When you support farms practicing regenerative agriculture, you help rebuild soil health, protect pollinators and wildlife, strengthen local food systems, and preserve farmland for future generations — keeping productive land in farming instead of losing it to development, warehouses, and data centers.

You are also choosing food that travels a much shorter distance from field to kitchen.

Vegetables harvested locally and delivered soon after picking simply taste different than produce that has traveled across the country.

A Commitment That Has Guided Our Farm Since the Beginning

When we started Willow Haven Farm in 2009, our goal was simple: nourish people with real food.

We wanted to grow food in a way we would feel confident feeding to our own family. That commitment shaped every decision we made on the farm.

From the way we build soil to the way we raise milk cows, pigs, and chickens on pasture, our focus has always been on producing clean, nourishing food for the families who depend on it.

The terminology used in agriculture may change over time, but our commitment to the land and to the people we feed remains the same.

See What’s Available From the Farm

If you would like to experience the difference that regeneratively grown food can make in your kitchen, the easiest way to start is through our online farm market.

Each week you can choose from:

• fresh vegetables grown here on the farm
• seasonal fruit from trusted growers
• pastured meats and eggs
• grass-fed dairy
• brick-oven breads and baked goods
• carefully selected pantry staples

You can customize your order each week and choose delivery or pickup locations throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Explore what’s available this week and bring food from your local farm into your kitchen.

If you’re new to buying from the farm, the “New Start Here” section will guide you to the best first items to try.

Browse the Online Farm Market

Questions About How Your Food Is Grown?

One of the benefits of buying food from a local farm is that you can always ask questions.

If you’re curious about how something is grown, how animals are raised, or how our farm operates, we’re always happy to talk.

Stop by the farm, send us a message, or ask the next time you see us.

We believe knowing your farmer should be a normal part of knowing your food.

We support your desire to build a healthy way of life and to place food on your table that truly supports that goal.

Reuben and Tessa DeMaster
Willow Haven Farm

P.S. If you’d like to taste the difference that regeneratively grown food makes, here are a few places to start.

Bring Real Food from the Farm into Your Kitchen

Discover nutrient-dense local food from farms that contribute to your health. Shop our online market for grass-fed meats, seasonal vegetables, wild-caught seafood, and the real-food kitchen staples your family deserves.

Shop Meat & Seafood

Shop Vegetables

You can! This April, foster baby chicks from Willow Haven Farm in Breinigsville & New Tripoli, PA through our Foster a Chick Program. Pre-orders are open now!

Pre-order My Foster Chicks

Why Foster Baby Chicks?

Wouldn’t it be amazing to feel connected to spring and experience new life in a whole new way?

At Willow Haven Farm, we collect farm-fresh eggs daily to make delicious omelets, scrambles, quiches, pies, and cakes. But given the right conditions, an egg will hatch into a chick!

Did you know that many farms, including ours, receive baby chicks through the USPS mail? We typically receive two boxes of one hundred loudly peeping chicks, and it’s our job to make sure they are well cared for.

Now It’s Your Turn to Raise Baby Chicks!

Did you know that you can help us raise our day-old chicks for a couple of weeks?

As soon as our chicks arrive, about 100 local families will line up to pick their special pair to take home.

Participants will learn the importance of farm animal care:

• Keep chicks warm, but not too warm.
• Provide fresh water at all times.
• Make sure they don’t spill their water and get too cold.

But don’t worry! Just like all babies, they will peep loudly to let you know if something is wrong. That’s their way of reminding you to check on them while you foster them for Farmer Reuben.

Pre-order My Foster Chicks

When will I pick up my pair of chicks?

Foster Chicks: Thursday, April 2 – Saturday, April 4, 2026
Pickup at Willow Haven Farm – 7686 Herber Rd, New Tripoli, PA
Thursday 10 AM – 4 PM
Friday 10 AM – 6 PM
Saturday 10 AM – 1 PM

Pre-order My Foster Chicks

How do I take care of my foster chicks?

No worries! After you reserve your chicks, we’ll send you a Chick Care Guide and a series of training emails to walk you through the process. Watch your inbox!

When Should I Return My Foster Chicks?

Most participants keep them for about two weeks, but you can return them earlier if you prefer. Check our return hours which will be posted in our Foster a Chick Chat group.  You’ll get the link when you complete your Pre-order.

What else can I do at Willow Haven Farm?

Get Organic Farm Food Year-Round!
Customize your Market Box CSA with farm-fresh, organic foods. We even deliver to homes in the Lehigh Valley! Foster A Chick participants get $20 off if you join by May 1st. Learn More Here!

Visit the Farm Any Saturday!
Farm tours, see other animals, and shop our On-Farm Market.

Join Volunteer Tuesdays!
Bring your family and help on the farm any Tuesday between 8:30 – 12:00 PM.

Brick Oven Pizza Nights!
Enjoy fresh, farm-made pizza at our monthly pizza nights!

Homesteading Conference – Sept. 5, 2026
Learn essential skills for a self-sufficient lifestyle.

Pre-order My Foster Chicks

But winter farm to table eating isn’t impossible. Instead of being a time of scarcity, winter on the farm is a time of rest and renewal—both for the land and for our bodies.

When we eat seasonal, local foods and align with nature’s rhythms, we not only support our health but also embrace the sustainability of farm-to-table eating.

For many of us, especially those looking to provide nourishing meals for our families, winter in Pennsylvania can feel like a tricky season.

You’re juggling family life, work, and the challenges of keeping everyone healthy.

But did you know that by choosing winter vegetables like kale, sweet potatoes, and winter squash, you can save time, eat better, and even support your local community?

On our farm in New Tripoli, we’ve seen how these vegetables not only thrive during the colder months but also offer the perfect nourishment for this slower season, making it easier to create healthy, hearty meals for your family.

Winter Vegetables Key Ingredients for Healthy Meals in Lehigh Valley

You might think that winter means fewer options here, but there’s actually an abundance of seasonal vegetables that are perfect for this time of year.

As farmers, we’ve witnessed how the cold air and even the frost make certain crops sweeter and more nutrient-dense. Hardy greens like kale, arugula, and Swiss chard are still growing strong, even on these colder days. Need recipes to inspire you to plan your menu around these vegetables?

Simple Winter Meal Ideas

Winter meals don’t have to be complicated to be nourishing.

Here are a few easy ways to build meals around winter vegetables:

Sausage, Kale, and Onion Skillet
Brown pastured sausage in a heavy pan, add sliced onions and chopped kale, and let everything soften together. Finish with a splash of broth or a pat of butter. It’s simple, deeply satisfying, and comes together quickly on a busy evening.

Roasted Winter Squash with Garlic and Herbs
Cut butternut or kabocha squash into wedges, toss with olive oil, garlic, and sea salt, and roast until caramelized. Serve alongside eggs or roasted meat for an easy winter supper.

Sweet Potato and Egg Breakfast Hash
Dice sweet potatoes and sauté them until tender, then add greens and crack a few eggs right into the pan. This kind of meal works just as well for dinner as it does for breakfast.

One-Pot Winter Vegetable Soup
Start with onions, carrots, and celery, add bone broth, chopped greens, and whatever roots you have on hand. Let it simmer slowly — the longer it cooks, the richer the flavor becomes.

These meals aren’t meant to be rigid recipes. Think of them as starting points — simple ways to turn seasonal vegetables into warm, nourishing food without needing a complicated plan.

The Power of Frost-Kissed Greens for Winter Nutrition

Have you noticed how sweet the crunchy Bok Choy stems are recently?

We sautéed them last night with the leaves, garlic, and onion in a little pork lard for a delicious side that is rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants.

When frost hits, these greens convert starches into natural sugars to help them survive, sort of like “anti-freeze.”

Not only does this make them taste sweeter, but it boosts their antioxidant content, giving your body exactly what it needs to fight off seasonal illness and keep your energy levels up. In fact, the transformation of these greens under cold stress highlights how nature’s changes can directly enhance their nutritional value.

Winter Squash and Sweet Potatoes: Immunity-Boosting Vegetables for Winter Meals

But it’s not just greens that thrive in winter.

Winter squash varieties like butternut, acorn, and kabocha, along with sweet potatoes, are also key foods in the seasonal vegetable lineup.

These hearty vegetables, packed with beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A), help support your immune system by maintaining healthy skin and mucous membranes—your body’s first line of defense against bacteria and viruses.

The Antioxidant Power of Winter Vegetables: Winter Squash, Sweet Potatoes, and More

Bright orange vegetables, much like frost-kissed greens, provide vital nutrients that help your body stay strong and resilient.

The antioxidants in winter squash, carrots and sweet potatoes reduce inflammation and repair cells, while their natural sweetness makes them a comforting addition to any meal.

Eating these in-season organic foods during winter not only nourishes your body but helps maintain hydration during the cold, dry months—when both your skin and respiratory system need extra care.

Traditional Wisdom for Seasonal Eating: Aligning with Nature’s Winter Rhythms

As we embrace the winter season, we can draw from the practical wisdom of Chinese medicine, which teaches us to align our eating habits with nature’s rhythms.

Winter invites us to slow down and nourish our bodies with warming, cooked foods that support our vitality and conserve energy. Root vegetables, winter squashes, and hearty greens like kale provide the nutrients we need to stay strong during these colder months.

Chinese medicine also emphasizes the importance of supporting our kidneys—our body’s center of energy and resilience—with foods like black beans, walnuts, and warming spices such as cinnamon and ginger.

Slow-cooked meals like stews and roasts help us maintain warmth, while warm drinks like ginger tea and bone broth keep us hydrated without cooling our bodies.

Ginger Tea can also be used for healing a fever. Find the recipe for “sweat it out” tea and more surprising ways to use ginger here.  

I naturally seem to simplify my meals this time of year. One pot meals, soups and stews are frequently on the menu and don’t take as much time and energy.

What about you?

By embracing these seasonal foods and practices, we can strengthen our immune system and stay balanced, all while staying connected to the natural cycles of our local environment.

Farm-to-Table Eating: A Solution for Busy Lehigh Valley Families

As a mom and farm wife, I know how overwhelming it can be to prepare meals that are both healthy and simple, especially during the winter. With the demands of family, work, and everything in between, it can feel like a challenge to get a nourishing meal on the table.

But that’s where farm-to-table eating comes in. By choosing local, seasonal vegetables and proteins—like the ones we grow on our farm—you can make meal planning easier, save time at the grocery store, and offer your family meals that are not only delicious but packed with nutrients.

Winter is the perfect time for slow-cooked meals like stews, soups, and braises. These meals are easy to prepare, highly nutritious, and perfect for warming up your body on cold days. Plus, they make use of the winter vegetables that are in season, like winter squash, root vegetables, and hearty greens.

Recipes: If you need recipes to inspire you to plan your menu around these vegetables, we’ve got you covered. Check out the winter super salads in this post or the winter squash recipes here.

3 Easy Winter Meals We Lean On

When the days feel full and the light fades early, I come back to meals that don’t require a long plan — just good ingredients and a warm kitchen. These are a few simple ways we build nourishing winter meals using what’s growing and storing well right now.

One-Pot Sausage, Potatoes, Carrots, and Onions
Start with a heavy pot and let everything cook slowly together. Pastured sausage adds flavor to the vegetables as they soften, creating a hearty supper with very little effort. It’s the kind of meal that fills the house with warmth while you finish the rest of your evening.

Bone Broth Soup with Kale and White Beans
A pot of broth simmering on the stove feels like medicine this time of year. Add chopped kale, cooked white beans, garlic, and a drizzle of olive oil at the end. It’s simple, deeply nourishing, and easy to adapt with whatever vegetables you have on hand.

Sheet Pan Squash with Pastured Chicken
Roast winter squash alongside chicken pieces with a little salt, herbs, and good fat. Everything cooks together, the edges caramelize, and cleanup stays simple — perfect for busy winter nights when you still want a real meal.

Eggs, Sourdough, and Greens for Fast Suppers
Not every winter meal needs to be a long slow cook. Sometimes we sauté a quick pan of greens, fry a few eggs, and serve everything with toasted sourdough. It’s fast, comforting, and surprisingly complete when you need dinner on the table quickly.

These meals aren’t about perfection — just steady, seasonal rhythms that make it easier to keep nourishing food at the center of your week.

Supporting Local Farms: The Environmental Benefits of Seasonal Eating

By embracing farm-to-table eating, you’re not just feeding your family—you’re also supporting local farmers and sustainable practices. Eating seasonally helps reduce the negative environmental impact of your food, ensuring that your meals are not only healthy for you but also for the land and soil.

Winter is a time when the land rests, allowing the soil to replenish itself, storing nutrients that will nourish the crops in the coming seasons. By choosing to eat foods grown in harmony with this season, you help sustain the land’s natural fertility, promoting a cycle of growth that benefits both your health and the environment. Supporting local farms means investing in the resilience of our food system and creating a lasting, positive impact on the community.

Nourishing Ourselves and our Local Farm Land in Winter

Winter is often seen as a time of rest, but let’s pause to consider what is actually happening in nature during this season. Many plants have completed their life cycle and are now decomposing into the soil, contributing valuable organic matter. Though it may seem like the land is dormant, the soil is teeming with life and energy. Microorganisms, worms, and fungi work tirelessly to break down the decaying plant matter, turning it into rich nutrients that will feed the crops of the coming seasons. The life beneath the surface is vibrant and ever-moving, supporting a cycle of renewal.

Trees in Hibernation: The Roots Are Where the Action Is in Winter

While it may seem like trees are inactive during the winter months, all the action is happening at their roots. The trees themselves are in a kind of hibernation, but beneath the surface, there is preparation for the spring. Sap is being produced and, soon, it will flow through the trees, signaling the rebirth of new growth.

Winter Garlic: Building Strength for Spring

In the same way, the garlic we planted last month is using this time to build a strong root system. It draws nourishment from the soil, preparing to grow quickly once spring arrives and the nutrients are abundant.

Learning from Nature: Embracing Winter Rest and Preparation for Health

So, what can we learn from nature during this restful season?

While the outward world may appear still, life and energy are actively at work beneath the surface. The land is not idle; beneath the frost, the soil experiences a deep, renewing transformation.

This natural rhythm teaches us that rest is not about being inactive—it’s a time for replenishment and restoration.

Your body follows this same cycle.

By nourishing your immune system with easy-to-digest foods, you allow yourself the time to rest, heal, and cleanse deeply. It’s a chance to restore your energy and store up the vitality you’ll need for the busyness of spring.

I suggest you give yourself permission to rest, de-stress, detox, and conserve the energy your body will need for the coming seasons.

Nourishing Yourself with Farm to Table Eating in Lehigh Valley

Winter is a time of rest, renewal, and healing, but it’s also a time when our bodies need more than just comfort—they need nourishment that’s aligned with nature. With the days growing shorter and the cold settling in, it’s easy to reach for processed foods that offer temporary warmth but fail to fuel our health long-term.

But by choosing seasonal, local vegetables and embracing farm-to-table eating, you’re giving your family the gift of health and wellness while supporting sustainable agriculture—a choice that will protect your family’s vitality and the future of our land.

Don’t wait until the cold weather takes a toll on your immune system—make the nourishing, intentional choice to slow down, nourish your body, and reconnect with your food now.

Whether you’re savoring a slow-cooked stew made with winter squash or warming up with frost-kissed greens, your meals will not only satisfy your hunger but also fuel your body for the months ahead.

When you choose food grown in season, you’re taking control of your health, ensuring that you’re ready for whatever winter throws your way, while also building a balanced and sustainable lifestyle for your family and community.

We support your desire to have a good, healthy way of life and food on your table that supports that goal.

We’ll keep farming for you!

Reuben and Tessa DeMaster
Willow Haven Farm

P.S. Ready to nourish your family with local, seasonal goodness?

Visit us at the Willow Haven General Store, where you’ll find fresh, farm-to-table foods that will warm you from the inside out. Our store is open every Tuesday – Saturday

8150 Hamilton Blvd, Breinigsville, PA 18031
​https://willowhavenfarmgeneralstore.com​
​Hours: Tues – Fri 7 am – 8 pm this week
Sat. 7 am – 4 pm

and Enjoy Our December Referral Rewards!

I love most when members like you tell me, “I wish my sister/friend/neighbor could get this food too.”

When real, local food starts showing up in your kitchen each week…
When meals get easier…
When your family actually eats the vegetables…
…it’s natural to want that for the people you care about.

That’s exactly why we created our Willow Haven Farm Referral Program—and for the rest of December, the rewards are Extra Special.

December Referral Bonus (Ends Dec 31!)

Through the end of the year, when someone uses your unique link:

Your friend gets $30 off their first order
and
You get $20 in farm credit after they order

This is our best referral reward of the year and a simple way to share the goodness during a season when everyone is looking for easy, healthy meals and real food they can trust.

Starting January 1:
The referral reward returns to the standard $15 off for them, $15 credit for you.

So December is the perfect time to share your link.

Where to Find Your Referral Link

Every member already has a unique referral link inside their account. Here’s where to find it:

1. Log in to your account
Screenshot placeholder: login page or dashboard

2. Open your “Referral Rewards” section

3. Copy your personal link

4. Send it to someone you want to help
Text it. Email it. Group chat. Anything works.

When your friend clicks your link, the $30 discount automatically applies to their first order (no code needed).

Ready to share?   Grab your referral link here.

Why This Makes a Real Difference

Your friend doesn’t need more meal-planning stress.
They don’t need more confusing grocery labels.
They just need someone they trust to say:

“Here’s the farm where we get our food. It’s made dinners easier and healthier for us. Here’s $30 to try it.”

You’re giving them:

• A smoother start to healthier eating
• A budget-friendly first order
• A way to skip grocery store overwhelm
• Access to local organic produce, meats, sourdough, and staples
• A gentle nudge toward the lifestyle they’ve been wanting

And you get rewarded for helping them take that step.

Why People Love Saying “My Farmer”

One thing I hear all the time is how much you love being able to say, “My farmer…” or “We get this from our farm.”

There’s something special about belonging somewhere—about knowing the people who grow your food and feeling proud to tell others. It’s a warm little moment of connection, identity, and confidence all rolled together.

And honestly? I love it too.

Something funny happens after a few weeks of Market Boxes:
People start referring to Reuben as their farmer. It’s not just about vegetables or sourdough or pastured pork. It’s about relationship, trust, and feeling like you’re part of something real.

When you share your referral link, you’re not just giving someone $30 off.
You’re inviting them into a place they can call their farm and introducing them to their farmer too.

Who to Share Your Link With

Think of someone who:

• Wants to eat cleaner in the new year
• Is burned out on grocery shopping
• Has picky kids who need better food options
• Started a health journey this fall
• Just moved to the Lehigh Valley
• Wants winter produce and pastured meats without the stress
• Has asked where your food comes from

Your link will get them started.

What Your Friend Will See

When they click your link, they’ll land right on the sign up page and can place they choose their membership. They’ll see:

• A $30 discount automatically applied
• Pickup or home delivery options
• No membership required for the first order
• Upgrade to Annual membership options
• Farmer’s Favorites subscription options

They’ll be able to shop when the online market opens on Fridays at 1 pm.

Once they complete that order, your $20 credit appears in your account for you to use on your next order.

A Message You Can Send Today

Feel free to copy and paste this:

“Hey! Our farm is running a December referral bonus. If you use my link, you’ll get $30 off your first order of local organic food. We love it—it makes meals so easy and healthy. Here’s my link.”

Short, friendly, and very effective.

Ready to Share the Good Food?

Log in, copy your link, and send it to the first friend who came to mind. You’ll help them start the new year with real food—and you’ll get farm credit to enjoy too.

Ready to share?   Grab your referral link here.

Log in → open “Friend Referral” → copy your link → share the goodness.
Your $20 credit will be waiting as soon as your friend places their first order.

We’ll keep farming for you!
Reuben and Tessa DeMaster
Willow Haven Farm

P.S. We love helping farm members get connected to their food and cultivate their health!