Small Farm Spotlight

In this series , get to know more about the small farm operations that are using sustainable methods to help meet the local demand for fresh food. And meet the farmers that are making it happen!

Whippoorwill Farms is located on 40 acres of forested land that provides forage for chickens, rabbits and hogs raised for meat. Marissa Paykos has been farming for the past few years, not only dedicated to raising healthy meats for her family and customers but also driven by the desire to leave the land better than she found it.

Marissa, her husband James and their daughter Ellie recently moved from two acres to the 40 acres they have now. This move has given them the opportunity to not only have room to expand the farm but also to change their methods of land and livestock management - shifting from pastures to forested paddocks that provide more opportunities for their animals to forage and stay more protected from the weather. “In our old farm, we did more in terms of pastures and pasture-raised and we had man-made shade structures for the animals, but I noticed that they struggled in the heat of the summer. So, for me it was an end goal to be able to establish a silvopasture and be able to have that be the habitat,” Marissa explained.

“And then once we’re done farming,” she continued, “we haven’t decimated the land, so native animals can come back in. It doesn’t over grow into an unmanaged field - it’s a forest. You can use it for hunting, for conservation… there’s a lot of opportunity with raising the animals this way.”

“Making a difference in the environment is important and that’s what leads most of our decisions.”

All livestock on the farm have plenty of room to roam and are rotated throughout the property for maximum benefit to the animals and the land.

Silvopasture is an agroforestry practice that integrates trees, pasture and forage for livestock. Studies have shown that this method improves the land's ability to sequester carbon and creates a healthier environment for trees and livestock alike.

Marissa farms full time with daughter Ellie by her side. In addition to raising livestock for meat, they also grow seasonal produce. Visitors are welcome and camping sites are available for those wishing to stay overnight.

Whippoorwill Farms is a regular vendor at Forsyth Farmers Market in Savannah and the Hilton Head Island Farmers Market. Products generally available include: chicken, pork, rabbit, fresh eggs and seasonal produce. There is also a “pay what you can” produce stand on the farm.

To learn more, visit their website!