Hill Creek Farm

09/05/2026

September is Pawpaw Tree Planting Month!

If you are looking for genetically diverse yet locally adapted seedling pawpaw trees, we have over 140, germinated from seeds from our trees. Message me for purchase. It is time to plant!

Remember, fruit always pollinates better with a friend.

Pawpaw fruit season has also begun here at Hill Creek Farm. Because of the April freeze, I am looking at 40 to 50% less fruit, but in spite of the freeze, my best trees are still producing!

Also received my "Fruit Grower Freeze Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant Application" from the PA Department of Agriculture. Amanda Wolfe, who answers questions on the grant, says that PA pawpaw growers are eligible for the grant if they file a Section F with their taxes and had a 30% fruit loss or higher.

I am grateful that the Commonwealth is looking out for all fruit growers and even more grateful that I have pawpaw trees that continue to produce. Genetic Diversity matters.

08/29/2026

Emergency Zinnias!

Neighbor has an event today and needed more Zinnias!

We have them so got up this morning, took care of the chickens, opened the high tunnels, watered the seedlings and went out there and harvested 'Benary's Giant' and the 'Firecracker' series for the event.

Zinnias make everything better!

08/27/2026

Look at the GREEN on the Tomato Leaf Pasta now for sale Heavy Metal Sausage Co - Patrick Alfiero & Melissa Pellegrino !

You can see it across the room when you come in the door! That is one deep color!

As one of the people that grew and harvested those leaves, not sure why I find the finished product so stunning; tomato leaves SHOULD be green and as QA for the farm, it's not like I would have let leaves with any other color go to anywhere but the compost pile, but I can't stop staring at that deep, deep green!

Someday, I'll get beyond that color and actually taste the pasta, but don't wait on me; get yourself down to Heavy Metal Sausage Co - Patrick Alfiero & Melissa Pellegrino and buy a bag to actually eat --then let the rest of us know how good it is!

08/27/2026

We were able to hire someone with previous farm experience! Thanks to everyone who applied and who got the word out that we were looking for employees!

Onward to Autumn!

Send a message to learn more

08/22/2026

Hill Creek Farm Employees and Volunteers, Summer 2026

Our student employees go back to school on Monday; they worked their hearts out this summer so yesterday, the adults shared with them one of our favorite places on earth: Chanticleer, a pleasure garden

Godspeed for the rest of 2026!

08/14/2026

Guard Snake!

We have many, many snakes here at Hill Creek Farm and we are always finding them in all sorts of places.

This one has set up housekeeping in the battery case that powers the Electric Back Field Deer Fence! In fact, when Frank opened the battery case to check the battery connections, this snake moved to the energizer, waited for Frank to close up the battery case again and went back in!

Not sure why this snake likes it so much, but should keep rodents from shorting out the wires!

08/13/2026

Farm labor at Hill Creek Farm in East Coventry Township, PA

Hill Creek Farm, an 8 acre specialty produce farm in Pottstown (East Coventry Township), PA is looking for outdoor-loving persons to help us plant the garlic, harvest the brassicas and other late summer/fall/early winter farm tasks.

Part-time or full time possible. Flexible scheduling, hourly wage based on experience

Interested?

Text Dorene Pasekoff at 610-506-3372 or email at [email protected].

08/12/2026

Sunrise at the 19th Century Cart Shed and the restored Switzer barn.

Photos this morning by gtgrace2

08/09/2026

'Italian Winter' tomato from the Seed Savers Exchange Vault.

A chef wanted some winter tomatoes to hang from the ceiling but most of the ones on the market can't handle Southeastern Pennsylvania humidity and don't last long.

Figured I would try "off market" and see what was in the SSE Vault. The database gave us 'Italian Winter' which has NO information attached.

Can't resist No Information, so I am growing it out to get Some Information (and hopefully, a tomato this chef wants!).

Have to save seed to replace my withdrawal from the Vault and if folks around here like it, so that I have adapted seed.

So far, this is one HARDY plant! Nothing phases it: Heat, drought, downpours, wildfire smoke, it just keeps going, pumping out thicker-skinned (usual for a storage tomato) cherry tomatoes with enough flavor to continue the trial. Generations of Italian peasants probably ate because of this tomato!

Will it handle the heat and humidity of a Philadelphia kitchen and last beyond November? Stay tuned!

08/01/2026

Huacatay!

Also known as 'Peruvian Black Mint' is actually a marigold (Tagetes minuta) grown to make "Black Mint Paste" to flavor a variety of Peruvian dishes.

Owen Taylor of TrueLove Seeds gave us the seeds when he heard that the chefs were evaluating the marigold plants in last year's ADAPT Trial with Seed Savers Exchange for the culinary quality of the leaves. Why not grow a marigold that IS grown for the culinary quality of its leaves?

Why not, indeed! It's here, it's on tomorrow's produce list and you, too, can try it!