The Human Residents
Alexia Allen (she/her)
Alexia Allen has lived at Hawthorn Farm since 2003, crafting a vision of the world she wants to live in. This includes beautiful and productive gardens, ample wild space, happy farm animals, and vibrant, loving human relationships. Studying nature for the past 20 years has brought her a deep appreciation of the threads that weave ecological and human communities together. Creativity guides her life, whether in making a stylish felt vest or a tasty goat cheese. After many years of being vegan, she became a YouTube sensation with a video on humane butchering.
Daniel Kirchhof (he/him)
Daniel Kirchhof sits daily with the greatest teachers—the creek, trees, and wild animals of Hawthorn's woodlands. This listening guides his work as a visionary story-teller, carpenter/architect, and community builder. He creates nature programs reconnecting people with hands-on skills and leads exhilarating archery programs, sharing life lessons through the magic of the bow and arrow. Whether tending his cabbage patch sauerkraut garden, building interesting structures, simmering in the sauna, or singing a song, Daniel brings an open, authentic heart.
Jenn Wolfe (she/her)
Jenn Wolfe spends winter in Hawaii with her kids and grandkids. Others seasons you can find her eldering animal tracking and nature connection programs at nearby Wilderness Awareness School, and travelling the world reviving culture. We are lucky enough to have her on the farm in the summer where she calms wayward goats, doctors ducks and charms chickens as she crafts a beautiful third half of life as a grass-scything, roof-fixing, hole-filling, dish-washing, wisdom-dispensing Farm Grandma.
Bob Pahl (he/him/they)
Bob Pahl was born and raised on DakÈŸóta lands near Minneapolis and came to Hawthorn Farm via the Wilderness Awareness School’s Anake Outdoor Program. Formerly a corporate process improvement geek he’s reclaiming "retirement," by embodying his indigenous farming roots: raising rambunctious rabbits, and tuning up everything from broken wheelbarrows to neglected record keeping systems. Away from Hawthorn, Bob offers his presence as a grandfather to Lilly, climate activist, explorer of Pacific NW wild places, and elder.
Animals
Goats
Three dairy goats provide milk and cuteness. They turn blackberry brambles into tasty cheese. Two Nigerian Dwarf sisters, Freya and Fat Pumpkin, give creamy milk and lively babies. Young Pipsqueak was born April 2022.
Ducks
If we had to choose a perfect partner for Pacific NW gardening, we choose ducks. They bask in rain, revel in puddles, and can even swallow slugs. It’s only possible for us to grow kale and cabbages because ducks happily roam the garden borders on a daily slug patrol. And... they produce rich pasture-powered eggs.
Hens
Our flock of 24+/- Delaware breed layers scratch and fertilize our gardens in the winter, and mow our pastures in the summer. A steady stream of brown eggs flows from their pens. We home-breed them to develop our strain of robust, locally-adapted birds.
Ponies
Duke is our remaining Amish pony. Flanked by JJ and mini Nutmeg, the ponies provide manure, traction, mowing services, self-reflection, and joy.
Bees
We care for our partnership with our native pollinators the mason bees, and when the plants are flowering, we also appreciate a little honey from these gals.
Rabbits
These fuzzies are pros at converting weeds into tasty (and adorable!) protein. A fleet of move-able pens lets young rabbits hop on fresh grass under our fruit trees.
The Landscape
Winter Wren Woods
These 4.23 acres joined the farm in 2014. 4 acres are in a forest stewardship plan, where the goal is to have old-growth cedar forest in 200 years. Daniels Creek runs through it—the creek was named that even before Daniel started visiting it every day. The woods graciously host many of our programs.
Gardens
This is where the magic happens. The sunlight that falls on this ground turns into tasty food! What! With greenhouses and plenty of space, we are able to grow food for us and our animals. The Farmily eats well from the garden all year long.
