Heritage Creek Farm & Education Center
Farm
Heritage Creek is a family owned and operated farm. We are a small-scale vegetable farm that offers a variety of agriculturally-based programs for children and families. Being a good steward of land and water, teaching about food origin and producing food through natural growing practices are fundamental elements at Heritage Creek.
Food Production and CSA
Join our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to receive farm-fresh, locally grown produce. The food grown on our farm is also sold to farm camp families, community partners, and at an on-site farmers market and mobile markets.
Farm Camp
The interest in our camps generally out numbers the space in our programs particularly when campers attend more than one session. Each season the registrations for our camps are managed by a lottery-style registration process. The lottery for 2024 summer camp will be open from January 6-20. Make sure you are on our email list to receive information as it becomes available. See Camps ages 6 1/2-12 and Camps ages 5-9
Home School Enrichment Program - Thursdays
This popular program for homeschool students ages 6+ offers a fall block (early September to early December) and a spring block (mid-March to end of May) - approximately 22 days of farm-based learning during a school year calendar.
Field Trips and Private Group Tours
Field trips and private group tours of the farm can be scheduled throughout the year. Use our online scheduling/inquiring form to request more information.
Family Farm
Family Farm provides the opportunity for the young and young at heart to visit Heritage Creek to experience a sampling of life on the farm!
Farm-to-School
We offer a variety of farm-based programs for students of all ages. Contact us for more information. We are happy to design a farm-to-school activity to meet your curricular goals.
Teen Summer Program
This program is designed for teens 13+ that are interested in learning about agriculture and animal care.
A message from Cindi hughes, owner
Organic farming dwells deep within my soul. My youthful memories are filled with walking barefoot in the warm soil, nurturing crops to ripeness, harvesting produce for our daily meals and preserving food for winter storage. I am a prodigy child of the organic movement that was locally inspired by Rodale Institute and Gene Logsdon. From seedling to adulthood, I have been nourished by wholesome food and have been steeped in the love of caretaking the land.
We live in a face paced age of technology where a lifestyle rooted in the simplicity of farm life is like finding a pearl in an oyster. Children are growing up without experiencing the wonders of nature. The art of growing our own food is becoming a lost tradition, in need of revitalization.
Our farm's mission is to plant the seeds of learning. Teaching regenerative agricultural practices provides the opportunity to spark meaningful conversations, light the fire for environmental awareness and model how individual actions can make a difference in our world. We hope to cultivate a new generation that values a healthy lifestyle and understands the local and global responsibilities of taking care of the environment. Our mission is two-fold in nature - raise wholesome food and also educate and encourage people to grow their own food!
Heritage Creek Farm Camp provides an authentic farm experience. Our farm is a popular destination for field trips for local public and private schools. Our summer camp serves children in Lancaster, York, Lebanon and Dauphin Counties and also welcomes children from other areas of the country that are visiting family.
Why the name Heritage Creek?
Here in Lancaster County, PA, we are blessed with a mild climate, plentiful rainfall, and rich soil. Southeastern PA is also rich in values, traditions, culture, and knowledge handed down by previous generations. Our owner, Cindi Hughes, comes from a long line of ancestors that valued the importance of growing and preserving their own food.
At Heritage Creek Farm camp, we believe the art of agriculture has historic and cultural value worthy of preservation. We are rooted in the legacy and history of small-scale farming. Taking the best from the old and combining it with modern day knowledge, we pursue a broad approach to food production that works in harmony with nature.
The tiny creek that graces our 25+ acre hillside property, is a tributary of the Little Chiques Creek. We are a small part of a large system of creeks that flow into the Susquehanna River and eventually leads into the Chesapeake Bay. Implementing ways to manage and keep rainfall on the farm is a part of our farm's land management stewardship. The creek and its surrounding riparian buffer, also provide a wetland ecosystem to explore, and a memorable place for campers to cool off a bit during hot summer days.
Education Goals:
Our farm-based curriculum is designed to give a wide variety of experiences
- Exposure to farm animals and their care
- Learning about Regenerative Agriculture Practices
- Land stewardship and environmental literacy
- Awareness of food origin
- Time to plug into nature
- Developing of life skills
- Explorential learning
- Cooperative work and creative play
- Collaborative through activities and games
- Developing a sense of imagination
- Will-building activities
- Creative and traditional art skills
- Fiber arts and fine arts
- Making farm-to-table snacks
Our Facility
Pavilion - Lower Farm
Little Seeds Classroom/Deck-Lower Farm
Forest Classroom - Lower Farm
The lower farm pavilion is located by the creek and is used for field trips and summer camp dining, and large group events/presentations.
Forest Classroom - Lower Farm
Little Seeds Classroom/Deck-Lower Farm
Forest Classroom - Lower Farm
The Forest Classroom provides an open air space on the lower farm. Our Art Barn is located in this outbuilding.
Little Seeds Classroom/Deck-Lower Farm
Little Seeds Classroom/Deck-Lower Farm
Little Seeds Classroom/Deck-Lower Farm
The Little Seeds Classroom/Deck is used for large group events. During summer camp it used for fiber arts, reading and board games.
Farmhouse - Lower Farm
The Market - Upper Farm
Little Seeds Classroom/Deck-Lower Farm
The old farmhouse was built in the 1890's. It is currently a private residence on the lower farm.
Farmhouse - Upper Farm
The Market - Upper Farm
The Market - Upper Farm
The new farmhouse was built in 2022 and is currently a private residence on the upper farm.
The Market - Upper Farm
The Market - Upper Farm
The Market - Upper Farm
The "Market Building" is an open air outbuilding on the upper farm.
Production Barn - Upper Farm
Small Greenhouse - Upper Farm
Production Greenhouse - Upper Farm
The Production Barn is on the upper farm and is the CSA pick up location.
Production Greenhouse - Upper Farm
Small Greenhouse - Upper Farm
Production Greenhouse - Upper Farm
The Production Greenhouse provides 1800 square feet of growing space. Visitors to the farm often tour this greenhouse.
Small Greenhouse - Upper Farm
Small Greenhouse - Upper Farm
Small Greenhouse - Upper Farm
This greenhouse when not being used to start seedlings, or curing vegetables, it provides a warm conversation space for visitors during the colder months.
Visit the farm!
Accepting field trip reservations for fall '24 & spring '25