Third Way Farm
The Name:
The name “Third Way Farm” (TWF) is inspired by Jesus’ teachings on nonviolent resistance to oppressive and unjust systems. Famously, Jesus tells us to “turn the other cheek” when someone strikes us, but unlike the commonly accepted interpretation of this teaching which calls for a passive, “peaceful” response to violence, it is actually a creative alternative. The “Third Way” entails a nonviolent, yet active and creative resistance to systems of oppression and violence, whereas the "first way" of response would be violence, and the "second way" passive acceptance.
At TWF, we believe the global industrial food system upon which we all depend to some degree, is doing a world of violence to our bodies, land, water, and communities. From dangerous and cancer-causing chemicals, to unsustainable soil management, overuse of water, and unjust wages and practices for hard-working farmers at home and abroad, its not hard to see the extensive and horrifying violence being done. At Third Way Farm then, we are seeking to join in spirit with the local, sustainable food movement by embodying a “Third Way” of nonviolent resistance to this oppressive and violent industrial food system. By practicing alternative methods of sustainable agriculture, we live out this Third Way and hope to offer wholesome, healing food, community, and faith for a world broken and beaten by this unjust food system.
The Name:
The name “Third Way Farm” (TWF) is inspired by Jesus’ teachings on nonviolent resistance to oppressive and unjust systems. Famously, Jesus tells us to “turn the other cheek” when someone strikes us, but unlike the commonly accepted interpretation of this teaching which calls for a passive, “peaceful” response to violence, it is actually a creative alternative. The “Third Way” entails a nonviolent, yet active and creative resistance to systems of oppression and violence, whereas the "first way" of response would be violence, and the "second way" passive acceptance.
At TWF, we believe the global industrial food system upon which we all depend to some degree, is doing a world of violence to our bodies, land, water, and communities. From dangerous and cancer-causing chemicals, to unsustainable soil management, overuse of water, and unjust wages and practices for hard-working farmers at home and abroad, its not hard to see the extensive and horrifying violence being done. At Third Way Farm then, we are seeking to join in spirit with the local, sustainable food movement by embodying a “Third Way” of nonviolent resistance to this oppressive and violent industrial food system. By practicing alternative methods of sustainable agriculture, we live out this Third Way and hope to offer wholesome, healing food, community, and faith for a world broken and beaten by this unjust food system.
The Farm:
Third Way Farm is the embodiment of a vision to unite regenerative agriculture and holistic Christian discipleship. On 67 gorgeous acres in Havre de Grace, MD, we are shaping our farm around the principles of permaculture and practicing "organic" and sustainable methods of agriculture. Believing the farm to be best conceived as a diverse and multi-functional ecosystem, Third Way Farm is highly diverse and multi-faceted. We broke ground in 2015, and our work centers around our 100% No-Till organic vegetable and herb production, micro-greens, and fruit, as well as the care of our pasture-raised chickens for eggs, heritage-breed pigs, and grass-fed sheep. We are a four season farm, as we grow an abundance of winter vegetables in our moveable high tunnel and other greenhouses, and have pork and egg products along with our produce 12 months per year.
No-Till - TWF is part of a growing number of passionate farms pursuing the highest level of sustainable soil management for our vegetable and herb production. Tillage, long thought to be a necessity for annual crop production, is perhaps the most violent and destructive thing we can do to the rich, fragile community of life that is soil. By pulverizing and turning over many layers of soil, we in turn destroy most of that biological life that makes soil alive and on which all plants depend to grow. This leaves the soil exposed to erosion and nutrient run-off, and calls for us to continually replenish the organic matter needed to maintain healthy soil by adding compost and other soil amendments.
Third Way Farm no longer uses any tillage on our soil, a testament to our Third Way of non-violent resistance farming. This regenerative farming practice is allowing our soil to thrive in peace and grow richer and deeper every season. No-till farming allows us to capture more and store more carbon in the ground, not the atmosphere, and our undisturbed healthy soil produces increasingly nutrient-dense and delicious food that is a privilege for us to serve our community.
Beyond our passion for developing a robust and sustainable local food system, Third Way Farm was conceived, in part, as a vessel for Christian discipleship and ministry. TWF seeks to engage in faith-based mentorship to young adults, including a partnership with our local church’s youth group. We offer well-rounded opportunities for education, experience, community, and mentorship to our interns as they live and work with us to produce wholesome food and equip themselves to expand regenerative and local farming in our rapidly changing world. We employ and mentor local teenagers and young adults from our neighborhood and church, and
Growing together as whole people functions consubstantially here with growing wholesome food for a more whole and just community. In our view, this is one of the most valuable gifts that sustainable agriculture has to offer—that by investing ourselves in the work of caring for the earth, we may reap harvests of wholeness, healing, and abundance that extend beyond the table and the ecosystem, in ourselves and our communities.
Third Way Farm is the embodiment of a vision to unite regenerative agriculture and holistic Christian discipleship. On 67 gorgeous acres in Havre de Grace, MD, we are shaping our farm around the principles of permaculture and practicing "organic" and sustainable methods of agriculture. Believing the farm to be best conceived as a diverse and multi-functional ecosystem, Third Way Farm is highly diverse and multi-faceted. We broke ground in 2015, and our work centers around our 100% No-Till organic vegetable and herb production, micro-greens, and fruit, as well as the care of our pasture-raised chickens for eggs, heritage-breed pigs, and grass-fed sheep. We are a four season farm, as we grow an abundance of winter vegetables in our moveable high tunnel and other greenhouses, and have pork and egg products along with our produce 12 months per year.
No-Till - TWF is part of a growing number of passionate farms pursuing the highest level of sustainable soil management for our vegetable and herb production. Tillage, long thought to be a necessity for annual crop production, is perhaps the most violent and destructive thing we can do to the rich, fragile community of life that is soil. By pulverizing and turning over many layers of soil, we in turn destroy most of that biological life that makes soil alive and on which all plants depend to grow. This leaves the soil exposed to erosion and nutrient run-off, and calls for us to continually replenish the organic matter needed to maintain healthy soil by adding compost and other soil amendments.
Third Way Farm no longer uses any tillage on our soil, a testament to our Third Way of non-violent resistance farming. This regenerative farming practice is allowing our soil to thrive in peace and grow richer and deeper every season. No-till farming allows us to capture more and store more carbon in the ground, not the atmosphere, and our undisturbed healthy soil produces increasingly nutrient-dense and delicious food that is a privilege for us to serve our community.
Beyond our passion for developing a robust and sustainable local food system, Third Way Farm was conceived, in part, as a vessel for Christian discipleship and ministry. TWF seeks to engage in faith-based mentorship to young adults, including a partnership with our local church’s youth group. We offer well-rounded opportunities for education, experience, community, and mentorship to our interns as they live and work with us to produce wholesome food and equip themselves to expand regenerative and local farming in our rapidly changing world. We employ and mentor local teenagers and young adults from our neighborhood and church, and
Growing together as whole people functions consubstantially here with growing wholesome food for a more whole and just community. In our view, this is one of the most valuable gifts that sustainable agriculture has to offer—that by investing ourselves in the work of caring for the earth, we may reap harvests of wholeness, healing, and abundance that extend beyond the table and the ecosystem, in ourselves and our communities.
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