HISTORY

The "Home Farm" has been in continuous production by the Iseley family since 1790. Through the years it has produced tobacco, fruits and vegetables, as well as grazing pastures and feed for the cattle.

Margaret Phillips, daughter of Rainey and Ann Phillips, and wife of Boston Iseley, began the Iseley heritage of the farm by leaving it to her daughter Margaret Iseley Ireland who then passed it to her son Fletcher Ireland.  The farm was then purchased by Fletcher’s second cousin, Jerome Iseley and wife, Mary Ross Iseley.  It was inherited by siblings Edward, Rena Maude and Allen Iseley and finally portions purchased and inherited by N. Jane Iseley, daughter of Edward, in 1987.    

Frank and Sallie Iseley, parents of Jerome

Mary Ross Iseley with children Allen and Rena in the tobacco fields.

 Today, this local produce farm is within the Alamance County Agricultural District, is recognized as a North Carolina Century Farm, a Conservation Farm, and is a member of the Forestry Stewardship Program.  Iseley Farms is permanently protected by the Piedmont Land Conservancy.
 
This diversified farm presently has 39,090 strawberry plants growing on approximately three acres to be ready for picking in mid-April. The Vegetable Barn opens about mid-June to sell the bounty of 10,000 tomato plants as well as many other varieties of summer vegetables.  Our fall crops include pumpkins, winter squash, apples and mums.  One hundred and four acres are certified organic fields and a cow/calf operation consists of approximately 90 head of cattle. The beehives and many bluebird and bat boxes found on the farm are just a few examples of the environmental practices emphasized on the farm.
 
Always choosing a smart, or sustainable way to grow has helped preserve this valuable land for seven generations.  The agricultural easement placed on the land through the Piedmont Land Conservancy will assure the continuous agricultural use of the land for many generations yet to come.  

Allen Iseley with piglets	Dot the Horse with friend
Jane holding tobacco in front of present day Vegetable Barn	Field of shocked wheat in present day strawberry field
Jane's uncle, Allen Iseley thrashing wheat	Allen stacking wheat straw
Jane's father, Edward F. Iseley with his girls basketball team from Pleasant Grove School where he was principal and coach for 42 years.  He farmed on the weekends and in the summer.	Jane Iseley on the farm with pumpkins.