Taproot Farm

Taproot Farm is a 200 acre Certified Organic produce farm in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The farm grows a diverse variety of vegetables and berries full of flavor and nutrition and provides it to our customers at its peak freshness. Using farming practices that enrich the health of the farm’s ecosystem, the farmers take pride in the nutritious, high quality food they grow using Organic practices. Taproot Farm began as a rented plot of 5 of the 200 acres that make up the farm today. The farm found its footing at the Chestnut Hill Growers’ Market, selling its high quality produce from a small stand, and the 27 CSA members who signed up for the Taproot Farm CSA in 2010. The original 5 acres had already been transitioned into organic practices when George and Ola began to rent the land and the shaley hilltop soil began to recover some of its biodiversity, and produced a bountiful crop. With meager means and lots of determination, they farmed the ground almost all by hand with the help of 1 employee and volunteer help from family. As first generation farmers, there was a lot to learn, and a lot to build. In 2014 the farmland Taproot had been renting was going to be sold, and George and Ola took a leap of faith.  With the help of the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, they were able to buy the farm, which included 23.5 acres. The purchase allowed them access to 10 additional acres of prime soil, setting the scene and putting down roots for what was to become the 200 acers of Certified Organic farmland Taproot owns and operates today. Taproot Farm has since become a staple source of delicious, trustworthy produce for its CSA and the Chestnut Hill Farmers’ Market. Its relationship with wholesale customers and distributors has blossomed, providing a wonderful array of heirloom varieties, and cutting edge culinary favorites. The farm now employs up to 20 people at the peak of the growing season, and over the years members of this group of hard working farmers have become their own community of long time friends. George Brittenburg and Ola Creston started Taproot Farm in 2009 with a young family, 5 acres of rented ground, and a small tractor. As first generation farmers, they built Taproot Farm from the ground up and are pleased to have expanded the farm over the years so that it can serve as a lasting source of local, healthy Organic food. George and Ola see Organic farming as vital to protecting the environment, and they’re passionate about the work they do. George loves working outside and Ola loves working in the nursery and being creative on the farm. Besides their passion for food and farming, they enjoy traveling, hiking, watching wildlife, cooking, spending time with their family, and going on endless farm walks with their pups. The dedicated farmers who work alongside George and Ola in the field, become part of their extended family and return year after year. Pearl is originally from Northeast Pennsylvania. She began working on farms while obtaining an Environmental Studies degree in Vermont, and has spent the last couple of decades primarily on organic vegetable farms throughout the Northeast. Pearl landed back in Pennsylvania and joined the Taproot Farm team in 2021. Other pursuits include growing giant kohlrabi for her dog Buckwheat (it’s Buckwheat’s favorite), foraging for firewood, and hanging out in the woods or on a kayak. Samuel lives in Durango, Mexico in a “Ranchito” named Pilar de Zaragoza. He enjoys working on the family farm with his father in Pilar, plowing with horses and sowing corn and beans. Samuel has worked at Taproot Farm since 2018 and spends his days driving tractors, managing summer harvest crews, and maintaining farm tractors and equipment. He is a father of 3 boys and runs an animal feed store in Pilar with his family. When he returns to Durango, he works in construction. Jose lives in Pilar de Zaragoza, Durango, Mexico, and travels to Taproot Farm each spring. He loves to live in the countryside,