How an Incubator Farm Launched Heeks Farm
This past Tuesday I had the opportunity to attend a Durham Farm Campus Retreat. It was a welcome escape from the heat. The farm stand was still open. I’ve been trying to have everything set up for self-serve while I am busy working in other parts of the farm or if I have to run an errand.
The future Durham Farm Campus is located at the corner of Orange Factory Road and N. Roxboro St. (or US Hwy 501). The plan one day is for it to be an incubator farm. A place where new and beginning farmers can gain access to land and start or grow their farm businesses. There’s also plans for a commercial kitchen space with dry and cold storage. And lots of recreational and educational opportunities. There’s a lot of plans. And right now not a lot of money.
Late May at the Farm: Strawberries, Passion Vines & What’s Next?
Yes. We still have strawberries! How much longer is anyone’s guess, but it looks like we could have some overlap with the blackberries. A few years ago when we planted the blackberries we had this vine show up in the patch as a “weed”. Turns out it was purple passion flower or maypop or passion fruit. Yes. Passion fruit. I’ve been slowly experimenting with cultivating this wild plant so we could have more of it. It has an absolutely stunning flower, is an amazing pollinator plant and it is the host plant for the Gulf Fritillary (passion butterfly).
Strawberries, Robots, and Real Dirt Farming: Memorial Day at the Farm
I used to think my job was safe from the robots. I’ve discovered a system developed in the UK where they grow strawberries off the ground in these elevated soil bags. They are grown in field scale poly tunnels, protected from the rain and wind. It’s pretty impressive. Everything is highly automated. And they have robots which they say “will increase farm productivity whilst reducing packhouse and farm labour, fruit waste and fungicide use, and ultimately eliminating fossil fuel use.”
Calls to Farmer Mark and Lessons from a First-Year Grower
I’ve called Farmer Mark of Waller Family Farm every week with some crisis or pressing question. It starts with me texting him, “Hey Mark. Got a minute to chat? I’ve got a question about…”. 5, 10, 15 minutes later my phone will ring. It’s Mark. No matter how I’m feeling when I answer the phone. It’s like a burst of sunshine and rainbows on the other end of the line when I hear Mark’s voice. As a first year strawberry grower I feel like I’m on a roller coaster. I’ve never grown a crop with so many ups and downs, highs and lows. I mean lowest of low.
Rain and Strawberries
After over 2 inches of rain, many ripe strawberries at Heeks Farm are at risk of going to waste. If you can pick and put up berries this week, we need you! It’s a chance to save food, stock your freezer, and support a local farm near Durham, NC. Open Wed–Sat—call first!
Strawberry season is short and it's time to pick berries
Strawberry season is in full swing at Heeks Farm, and Farmer David is working hard to keep the berries healthy during this record-breaking April heat. From daily walks through the rows to updates on the berry hotline, it’s all about keeping the patch thriving for as long as possible. Stock your fridge, freezer, or favorite recipes with fresh-picked strawberries—perfect for snacking, breakfast, desserts, and more. Plus, sugar snap peas are just starting, and a new pollinator garden is in the works. Check our Facebook for updates and call before you come!
The farm signs are up!
Spring is in full swing at Heeks Farm in Durham, NC! The strawberries and blueberries are blooming, and the farm signs are up—handcrafted from reclaimed wood with a touch of Heeks Farm history. Between hand-weeding the berry rows and conducting nutrient tests on the strawberries, we’re busy preparing for a successful harvest. Check out our latest update, including a behind-the-scenes video of the sign painting process.
The life of a strawberry
At Heeks Farm in Durham, NC, we’re gearing up for our first season of offering pick-your-own strawberries. From ordering plants in June to preparing the soil, planting 8,000 bare root strawberry plants, and dealing with challenges like unexpected diseases, it’s been a labor of love. After months of care, we’re excited to share our journey and offer families the chance to pick their own strawberries at our farm this spring.