Misty Pines Acres Chicken & Duck Egg Hobby Farm
- Real Change Wilmington
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Three years ago, Elizabeth Stern and her daughter, Leiana Grimes, owners and operators of Misty Pines Acres, began selling chicken and duck eggs. Misty Pines Acres is a local "hobby farm," according to Elizabeth, that houses 20 ducks, 120 chickens, two goats, one sheep, two dogs, and barn cats. In the future, she hopes to get pigs. They sell eggs at the farmers' markets in Wilmington, Hillsboro, and Lebanon, plus at the new Bite Size Market on South Street in Wilmington. They are also currently selling chicken meat for pre-order to pickup at the Clinton County Farmers' Market.
In addition to selling eggs and meat, the two also create and sell crafts including 3D printing, jewelry, decor, and T-shirts. Elizabeth also makes chocolates and chocolate suckers.
According to Elizabeth, her desire to begin farming chickens and ducks began because she had an interest in gardening and "self-sufficiency." She stated that she was drawn to ducks because their eggs are more nutritious, and she originally had a fear of chickens. Eventually, she overcame her fear and started expanding her flock to include "more and more" birds, including chickens.
Currently, the farm features Muscovy ducks and Welsummer, Brahma, Copper Maran, and Majesty chickens. The chickens are free range, but receive a supplemental feed in addition to what they eat while roaming.
In the summer, they collect five dozen chicken eggs a day and roughly two dozen duck eggs. They gather eggs three times a day. According to Elizabeth, the ducks usually lay eggs in the morning, and the chickens lay eggs three times a day. Because of this, Misty Pines Acres is able to sell eggs year-round and donate extra eggs to the Fellowship Church of Praise and the New Vienna Community Center.
According to Elizabeth, her favorite part of operating the egg farm is the people that they meet. She stated, "It's the people we've gotten to know... We get to know them and [their family]." Leiana followed, "It's more like catching up with them and developing a relationship with them."
To learn more, follow Misty Pines Acres on Facebook.
