‘Good food’ is the slogan of the 65-acre DH Farms of West Fork, Ark. Located on a picturesque hilltop in the Boston Mountains, near West Fork, the DenHerder family farm is a sprawling mixture of pasture and wooded land. The DenHerders work to make the farm sustainable and to operate as a team. The farm is a diverse mixture of livestock and produce, to meet the needs of the local farmer’s market and the interests of the DenHerder family.
Mark and Marquita DenHerder met while both were attending college at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Mark had moved down from Minnesota to pursue his master’s degree in horticulture. In addition to the livestock and plants, Mark and Marquita are also growing their family. Sons Gerrit and Henry join daughters Julia and Nealie in farm work and responsibility. Mark and Marquita are also loving foster parents to children in need. “The farm is therapeutic for children who have been through tough times,” shared Marquita.
Three years ago, Mark and Marquita, along with the children, decided to move to home schooling. Home schooling allows the children more time to have hands-on learning experiences on the farm. “One of our primary goals for the farm is to teach the values of stewardship, teamwork and nurturing,” said Marquita. Gerrit, the oldest child at 15, has been President of the West Fork 4-H club for four years. Marquita serves as the club’s group leader.
Mark currently works full time on and off the farm. The plan as the farm develops is to get to the point that all family members are working on the farm. Each year sees a new development and new ideas for the farm. Marquita and the children currently sell their eggs and produce at the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market. They also take orders and keep everyone informed on farm happenings at their website.
During the winter, when the market is closed, the DenHerder’s even deliver eggs to their customers. Julia, age 11, is in charge of egg collection throughout the day. The eggs are then cleaned and stored in their refrigerator until market or delivery time. Currently the chickens they are raising are black or red sex link that the children have raised through the 4-H poultry chain.
Each year the DenHerders are expanding and improving the farm. Currently, they have two hoop houses where they start everything from strawberries to squash. Living in the Ozarks, with the sometimes challenging soil conditions and topography, farmers have to be creative and open to new ideas. Mark shares that their philosophy on gardening has changed from a traditional till garden philosophy to one of a no-till permaculture. The primary reason for the change is the preservation of soil on their hilltop farm.
Permaculture is an approach to designing agricultural systems that mimic the relationships found in nature. Permaculture gardens serve many functions. Rather than limit the garden to only one use, permaculture gardens employ a variety of uses. A permaculture garden provides food and medicinal crops, wildlife habitats, crafting materials and an attractive appearance. These types of gardens produce food by using a variety of vegetables, herbs, fruits and flowers. Flowers are not only grown for their edible or medicinal properties but also for use as cut flowers for beautiful bouquets or dried out for additional longer-lasting displays, and some flowers function as a natural pesticide.
Permaculture gardens tend to use every bit of usable space. The DenHerders plan on expanding their garden to cover three acres, and with the extra size will come an expansion of their food offerings.
Whether it’s trying a new gardening technique, teaching technique or marketing plan for their produce, the DenHerders are an innovative family to watch.
