Dreamland Family Farm began quietly and unexpectedly, during a season of profound life change.

After decades in a demanding corporate career, I stepped away following the birth of my daughter. Becoming a mother reshaped everything! What truly mattered? What kind of life would best support a healthy, growing family? What began as a pause soon became a deeper question. What would it look like to build something slower, more grounded, and more family-centered?

That question led me to Fauquier Education Farm, a nonprofit farm that grows more than 10 acres of vegetables each year, all of which is donated to local food banks. I began volunteering there and still volunteer twice a week under the guidance of farmer and educator Jim Hankins. Jim is a true superhero of agriculture and a master of his trade. He teaches by doing, generously sharing decades of hard-earned knowledge while emphasizing soil health, observation, resilience, and respect for the land. Under his mentorship, I learned not only how to farm, but how to think like a farmer, how to solve problems, adapt to uncertainty, and commit to the long view. The farm became both a classroom and a community. I was honored to be named Volunteer of the Year in 2025 and later accepted into Fauquier Education Farm’s New Farmer Incubator Program, where I continue to grow Dreamland Family Farm with intention and gratitude.

At Jim’s suggestion, I took my first farming job, and truly hit the jackpot when I began working at Gathering Springs Farm, where I continue to work today. Under the mentorship of Pam Jones and Sarah Obuschowicz, I learned the daily realities of small-scale regenerative farming and what it takes to run a farm thoughtfully and consistently. Through long harvest days, farmers’ markets, crop planning, and packing, they taught me the discipline, humility, and reliability required to steward land and serve a community well. Their mentorship shaped not only my farming skills but also my understanding of collaboration and the importance of showing up for one another. It was at Gathering Springs Farm that I decided to start Super NoVA Eggs, a pasture-based egg farm rooted in animal care and regenerative practices.

Somewhere along the way, a loving community of farmers took shape, with mentors, coworkers, friends, mothers, and teachers. This group learns from one another, shares knowledge freely, and supports each other through hard days, early mornings, and big dreams. This community has been one of the greatest gifts of this journey, and the foundation that makes everything else possible.

Dreamland Family Farm grew directly out of these experiences. The farm is growing slowly and intentionally, guided by education, mentorship, and a deep respect for the land. At its heart, Dreamland is about doing things well, not fast. It’s about staying a student, honoring the people who teach you, and raising a daughter who grows up seeing where food and flowers come from. My daughter is often nearby, learning, playing, and growing right alongside the farm.

Dreamland Family Farm exists because of shared knowledge, generous mentors, and a farming community rooted in collaboration rather than competition. I am endlessly grateful to Jim and the Fauquier Education Farm, to Pam and Sarah of Gathering Springs Farm, and to the broader community of farmers who continue to shape this path.