Randy Morris
Today , Morris Organic Farm harvests nearly 50 types of produce , including different varieties of beans , peppers , potatoes , leafy greens , squash , tomatoes , onions , cucumbers and melons . He also grinds and sells his own whole-wheat flour and cornmeal .
During the summer months , Morris Organic Farm becomes a pickyour-own-produce farm , and customers are welcome to visit during weekday evening hours or on Saturday afternoons to harvest their own produce . In addition to running the farm , Morris works full time as a manufacturing representative , so having customers come to the farm to pick their own produce eliminates much of the time and costs associated with picking , sorting , washing and packaging items , he says .
“ Not only do we save a lot of time and money , but our customers get exactly what they want , in the quantity that they want . It works out very well ,” he explains . “ People like the fact that they can get an assortment at the farm , instead of doing their weekly shopping at the grocery store . Produce tastes best right after you pick it .”
The farm attracts customers from all over the Pittsburgh area and beyond ; some of his customers travel from as far away as Johnstown and Seven Springs .
In addition to inviting customers to the farm , Morris sells his produce at area farmers markets . He runs the Farm Fresh Farm Market in Irwin , which is held on Saturday mornings from June through October . His farm also operates a stand at the Murrysville Farmers Market on Thursday afternoons from June through September .
Morris has been farming since a young age . Growing up in Plum — he ’ s a 1971 graduate of Plum High School — his family had a backyard garden . When he moved to the Norwin area after college , he farmed on property off of Barnes Lake Road , then near Indian Lake and in nearby Sewickley Township before settling on his current location . From the beginning , he says , he wanted to “ do things correctly ” and follow the guidelines and procedures that would lead to organic certification . His farm is certified by Pennsylvania Certified Organic , a division of the U . S . Department of Agriculture .
“ When you eat produce that ’ s shipped in from other places , it may look nice , but it ’ s nutritionally void ,” Morris notes . “ With conventional farming , plants aren ’ t getting the nutrients and minerals that they need to be fully nutritional . The organic matter in our soil creates microbes that help our plants grow and thrive .”
Customers have responded to this message in kind . The farm is full of activity during the summer months , requiring extra help . And while some of his methods have become mechanized , much of the work still requires the toil of human hands .
“ The summertime allows for extra daylight , which helps , but we still need a few part-time employees and a lot of volunteers ,” he says .
Outside of normal summer visiting hours , Morris welcomes customers to make an appointment to visit the farm . Whole-wheat flour and cornmeal are sold year-round .
Morris Organic Farm is located at 110 Slebodnik Road , off of Mars Hill Road in Irwin . For more information , visit morrisorganic . com . n
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