Plot Twist Farm in Guys Mills delivers fresh, no-spray produce to Crawford County doorsteps and the Meadville Market House.
Farm owners Jason and Stella Ruggiero are what you’d call “market gardeners.” This means they’re small-scale farmers who sell directly to customers.
The couple farms approximately 4 acres nestled in the woods on a Dingman Road hillside. They use a walking tractor and hand tools to cultivate about 75 125-foot garden beds. High tunnels, or unheated greenhouses, help grow almost year-round. The entire farm is surrounded by a 7 ½-foot tall deer fence, which was constructed using a CARES Act grant distributed by Crawford County.
Every June through October, the farm operates a CSA (community supported agriculture) program. In this program, CSA members receive 18 weeks of fresh-picked produce. Home delivery is offered in many parts of Crawford and Erie counties and CSA members can pick up their weekly shares from the farm’s walk-in cooler or at Core Goods, a local, sustainable grocery store in Oil City.
During the growing season, you can shop at the farm’s stand at the Meadville Market House farmers market, every Saturday morning. The farm also sells produce at Edinboro Market.
Plot Twist Farm’s specialty is greens, including lettuce, kale and Swiss chard. The farm also grows potatoes, garlic and onions. Other crops include heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, celery, cabbage, beans, squash and watermelons. Herbs are also a farm staple, as well as shoots and microgreens. The farm has never used a single herbicide or pesticide.To learn more about the farm or join the CSA, visit plottwistfarm.com, where you can also catch up on the latest Plot Twist Farm stories from Stella’s farm journal.