About 10 years ago, Adam and April Frey really began to get into gardening.

The problem was that they only had one-tenth of an acre of land to use at their former home.

The couple planted a raised garden — and it was a success.

“We were growing enough produce to almost get our family of four through the winter,” April said.

With a move to the Tamaqua area several years ago — and this time to a place with a big yard — the Freys were able to expand their farming operations. They’re still feeding their family, and began selling produce and baked goods from a self-serve area at their home at 21 Reynolds Road in the village of Reynolds near South Tamaqua.

They’re also taking their goods to markets throughout the county.

They call their endeavor Bantam Acres Farm, and it will be one of the sites featured on the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce’s “Here We Grow” farm tour and wine tasting Saturday.

Idea takes root

April Frey recalled how it all began.

“Both Adam and I worked for an organic produce farm (Salvaterra’s Gardens near Alburtis) and learned a lot there,” she said. “Adam worked in the field, I worked at the farm stand and helped at markets. We wanted to feed our family with food we knew was healthy and safe.”

It started with the tiny garden, and expanded into bread making and keeping birds for eggs.

As the couple readied for their move to Schuylkill County, they knew they wanted to continue.

“Our plan was to start a chemical free/organic produce farm, because we really developed a passion for growing clean seasonal produce,” she said.

The property they eyed was overgrown — so much so that it was impossible to see all of the land.

“We took a big chance and bought it. Since moving in, we have done a lot of land clearing,” Frey said.

Of the 3 acres, the couple farms one. On it, they have 30 different varieties of vegetables and herbs. What is available at the self-serve stand changes throughout the season.

“I bake sourdough bread with no commercial yeast,” Frey said. I do several varieties and flavors. Our farmhouse sourdough sandwich is one of the most popular, but everyone’s favorite are our sourdough chocolate chip cookies.”

They also plan to offer chicken and duck eggs again.

The couple balances Bantam Acres Farm with full-time jobs and raising their two children.

“They help us when they can in the field and at markets,” April Frey said. “We think it’s important for the kids to see that working hard for something you believe really strongly in is worth it, even if you are always on the move. Both kids are really hard workers and do great with everything they do. We hope part of that is because of what they see us doing here.”

Fresh food

Another reason for maintaining the farm, she said, is to have fresh food available to the community.

The self-serve stand, she noted, is open every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“We are so happy that we have gotten the positive responses that we have so far. Schuylkill County has been so welcoming to us, we really couldn’t have expected things to go better than they have,” Frey said.

Future plans are to start a small community supported agriculture program where customers will receive a weekly box of Bantam Acres Farms’ chemical-free produce. Sourdough bread shares will also be available.

Breads can also be purchased at Open View Acres near Orwigsburg and Spring Mountain Farms near Lehighton. When The Farm Store in downtown Pottsville opens, Bantam Acres will sell its bread and produce there. April also started baking chocolate chip cookies for Billy’s Candies in Temple that are used to make ice cream cookie sandwiches.

As for the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce tour, the Freys are looking forward to it.

“We are going to show everyone around the farm, they will be able to see our birds and how they are kept and visit our field, so they can see the different stages of our field plots and what we have growing,” April Frey said. “We are going to explain what we do, how we do it, and why.”

She said attendees are welcome to ask questions because market garden farming is different from commercial farming.

King Solomon’s Vineyard, which is near Orwigsburg, will be on hand with wine tasting, and Bantam Acres will provide bread samples.