our farm - its history
The Long Acre was originally called The Wunderlich Farm, going back to about 1825. It is listed as a Virginia Century Farm, meaning that it has been actively and continuously farmed for at least 100 years. The brick farm house was built just before the Civil War, and was reportedly used as a makeshift hospital during the war, with some soldiers (and many later visitors) leaving their initials etched in the brick walls. It was originally a few hundred acres, it is now 21 acres that had mostly been used for cattle.
how and what We Grow
We are primarily an elderberry farm, growing 9 varieties: six American, two European and one cross. We harvest both the flowers and berries, using them all for our syrups and honeys. We also grow a smaller amount of gooseberries, mulberries, and black, red, and white currants.
We keep bees, with the hope of eventually scaling up to produce some monofloral elderflower honey. And we also have a few chickens and sheep, but mostly just for fun and not associated with the berry business.
We are a no-spray farm, and fertilize with mushroom compost.
Cody & Paige Wilmer moved to the farm in 2016. Inspired by the fruit orchard he grew up on, Cody began planting elderberry bushes soon after their move. The elderberries have thrived in the lush and rich soil of the Shenandoah Valley, and the Wilmers can’t imagine ever living anywhere else.
