Meet Green Acres Farm: Three Generations of Sustainable Farming

The Hendricks family has been farming the same 200 acres in Lancaster County since 1998. What started as a modest vegetable operation has grown into one of the region's most respected organic farms, supplying restaurants, farmers markets, and direct-to-consumer customers across Pennsylvania.

We sat down with third-generation farmer Ellen Hendricks to learn how the family balances tradition with innovation, and why they believe the future of food is local.

"My grandfather started with just ten acres of tomatoes," Ellen says, standing at the edge of a field of winter greens. "He didn't call it organic back then. He just called it farming the right way."

Today, Green Acres grows over 40 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and heritage grains across their certified-organic operation. They supply three farmers markets weekly, maintain a 200-member CSA program, and ship to a growing list of restaurants that prize their consistent quality.

The key to their longevity, Ellen explains, is soil health. "We rotate crops on a three-year cycle, use cover cropping extensively, and haven't used synthetic inputs in over two decades. The soil gets better every year."

For customers looking to connect with farms like Green Acres, Ellen's advice is simple: "Show up. Visit the farm. Ask questions. The best producers are the ones who want you to see how they work."