Basehore Farm Market

Our Basehore Family Farm Heritage Our Basehore Family heritage started here on Creekview Road in 1904 when John and Sarah Basehore brought their young family here as tenant farmers for the McCormick Family. The property was the only McCormick farm on the north side of the Conodoguinet Creek, thus dubbed Northside Farm. Their son Mark and his wife Esther took over farming this property in 1928. In 1944, the McCormick family divested their estate, offering the farm for sale. There was a lot going on in 1944 — the world was at war and money was tight. Mark and Esther found a way to buy the property, and worked hard to keep the farm thriving. Their son Don and his wife Jean took over the work of the farm in 1968, milking dairy cows with their growing family. All family members worked together with milking, field work and animal care. Son Tom continued working with them, milking cows until 1998. He also started to grow pumpkins, mums and sweet corn for sale at the farm. Tom and Sandy, his wife, renovated the historic limestone farmhouse, raising their family in the multi-generational tradition that is so valued by the widely spread Basehore Family. Son Max is now the 5th generation of the Basehore Family to work the soil and innovate new ways to keep the farm successful. Providing the local community with nutritious food and delightful farm goods for over 110 years is a source of pride for our family. The area growth makes farming a challenge — We are blessed with good neighbors that support our efforts and respect our agricultural roots. Raising the present day Red Barn in 1936 after previous structure was destroyed by a summer lightning storm in 1935. Basehore Farm with Holstein dairy cows, around 1978. Dairy cows were milked here at Basehore Farm for many years, being the main enterprise for about 50 years. Don, Jean and Tom had a registered herd of Holsteins. Great care was taken with genetic selection for strong body composition, milk production and overall health. Fields near the barn, including on the creek side of the road, were used for pasturing the dairy cows. Cars (considerably less) patiently waited while the cows were moved from one side to the other. The farm was a major producer of potatoes in the early 1900’s with Mark Basehore winning many awards for both yield and quality of their potatoes. Potatoes grown on the north side of the Conodoguinet Creek have a different flavor than ones grown on the south side… due to the different soil base. North side=Shale, South side =Limestone. Its now termed terroir. Back then, we simply claimed our north side potatoes tasted better!!