The Holmestead Farm

05/20/2025

Lots of happy chicks!

10/19/2024

10/10/2024

My step dad Casa Diego and Lee Pesce started a go fund me for our farm.
Once we truly sat down and calculated losses from the flooding that Hurricane Helene brought ,it blew us away. We are a small farm, only started in 2019, and have been slowly building up as we can. Any help offered is greatly appreciated to help us recuperate.
Asking for help I never easy, but what Doug and Lee and have started for us is truly a blessing. So a big hearted thank you to them and to anyone who may donate.

Much love to you all. ❤️
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-asheville-farmers-rebuild-after-hurricane?qid=aaa10dd89447eea5e0bb56dc7b4d675c&fbclid=IwY2xjawF07WBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSr6PCGODBANtNUQG1yda5-DZYa0vCM6K-taDkAR9v6nAgwMGI2VqoRgNg_aem_Y3rlzjb2BGeWY526hp5joA

Hurricane Helene damaged a family farm near Asheville. ’m a concerned… Douglas Pesce needs your support for Help Asheville Farmers Rebuild After Hurricane

10/01/2024

Our little farm is doing ok in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Our creek did burst it's banks and unfortunately washed away 120 of our meat birds. We also lost approximately 20 of our chicks in their brooder. We still have approximately 30 eggs layers, 100 chicks in the brooder and 10 ducks who are living there best lives with all the additional water ways that have been carved out in the land.
Two of our chicken coops are currently filled with rocks and sand, and still have creek water flowing through them. Until we can shore up the water, remove the rocks etc, we do not know if any part of them is salvageable.
Our dirt road was corroded away and local men with dump trucks and excavators have been working tirelessly for 3 days to make temporary repairs to make it passable. We were able to venture out to get chick feed and dog food. On the way home, our Jeep broke down on the dirt road. Our fantastic neighbours all helped us. We were able today to get the Jeep back up to the house. It is our only car with working 4WD.
So these are all the conundrums we are facing.
In reality, we have been extremely lucky and we are well aware of that. We only lost power for 26 hours.
We have 130 chickens and 10 ducks, 2 Pyrenees and 4 cats to take care of now so that is what we will focus on.
Our farm started from nothing, so while we have a set back, that is all that it is. Assess where we are and build what we need as we can with perseverance and resilience.

The video was the morning we woke up to see what had happened. That's our two coops that sustained the worst.

09/19/2024

Rise and shine mother Clucker!

08/31/2024

It almost looks like I staged this but I swear it wasn't.

08/07/2024

Just like cats, chickens just can't resist a good box

08/04/2024

John and I are playing the mud today.
Because of all the rain we have been getting, sludgy goop has been pooling and creating mudslides right in front of the chicken coops making it treaterous to walk through especially when carrying something.
So today we are laying rocks down in those areas. Not only does it look better but it is safer.

08/02/2024

Anyone need their grass cut with some cattitude?

07/31/2024

Hey fellow farmers in Leicester and Sandy Mush.

The Leicester Community Center is hosting it's First Friday Coffee For Farmers and Friends on August 2nd from 10am to 11am.

This is great opportunity for generational farmers, 1st geanerational farmers, old & young and aspiring farmer to connect, network and share stories over a cup of coffee.

See you there!

Picture of my Pyrenees because the algorithm demands attention.

#

07/31/2024

Happy Birthday Farmer John!

Make his day and wish him well at the Leicester Tailgate Farmers Market today 3-6pm.🥳🎂🎊

07/30/2024

Who says chickens can't fly!?! 😂🐓