Sheraton Park Farms

Each week at the High Point Farmer’s Market we have the pleasure of interacting with lots of customers who are looking for nutritionally dense food that is raised locally and responsibly. After every market its extremely satisfying knowing that we’ve been able to help feed countless individuals and families through the production of our farm. And each week during the market we get lots of questions about the farm, our farming practices, our animals and who we are. So here 12 common questions we are asked about our farm at the Farmer’s Market. We are in Pleasant Garden just south of Greensboro. The farm actually has a Greensboro address but we consider ourselves in the Pleasant Garden community. Our property is 20 acres but we currently only farm about 10 of those acres. The property was a former tobacco farm that has not been in production for a number of years. We are still working to establish pastures, fencing, water and other infrastructure. Its is a big task that will take a long time to complete. 3. Can I come out and see the farm? Yes. We welcome folks to come out and see what we are doing and how we farm. Our belief is that if you can't see how your food is raised, you might not want to eat it. We request that you set an appointment to come so we are sure to be available to show you around. 4. Do you grow or make everything you sell? Yes we do. All of our animal products are grown on our farm. We raise our chicks and turkey poults from day old birds and they stay on the farm all the way through processing. Our pigs are usually about 6 weeks when we get them and they stay with us until processing. Pork products are processed by Piedmont Custom Meats in Asheboro. Pimento Cheese is homemade but we do buy the ingredients for it. 5. Do you make the sausages yourself? No. They are produced by Piedmont Custom Meats using a recipe we have picked out. Since we sell those to the public, they have to be processed at a USDA inspected facility, which Piedmont is. 6. You have honey so do you have bees? Yes. We've been keeping bees for about 9 years now. Our honey is a spring/summer mix made of nectar the bees forage locally. We have no way of knowing what all is in the honey but we do know there is blackberry, clover, tulip poplar and other local nectars and pollen. 8. Are your eggs and chicken free range? The egg laying chickens on our farm are kept in an electric netting area that is approximately 100'x100' along with a mobile coop with nesting boxes for eggs. The netting provides protection from ground predators like foxes and raccoons but allows the chickens a nice big area for them to scratch and forage in. We move them onto a new area about every 2 weeks. The meat chickens are kept in a 10'x20' enclosure that is open on each end and has a tarp over the top. They are moved every day onto a new piece of ground where they can forage for bugs, and worms. The enclosure gives them protection from predators and the elements while still allowing them to be on fresh grass and eat a natural diet. No, we do not have beef yet. Since our pastures are in less than desirable condition for beef cattle, we've not brought cattle for beef on to the farm. We do have some cows that are here to begin eating forage and "fertilizing" the ground with manure. We hope to have some whole cow hamburger later this year. We've also been working with another farm that raises animals in the same way we do using the same philosophy and principles to potentially furnish some beef for our customers. Nothing is set yet but its on the table. 10. What other animals do you have at Sheraton Park Farms? Currently we are raising turkeys for both whole Thanksgiving birds and for ground turkey throughout the year. We've recently taken on some ducks for duck egg production but they aren't laying just yet. Another project we've recently taken on are sheep! Right now we have 11 sheep and will have some limited availability lamb products later in the fall.