The Flying Plow Farm Story
Imagine having a dream of providing certified organic produce to your community and having to build a farm from the ground up—literally.
Flying Plow Farm began in 2010 with three acres, a shoestring budget, and the blood, sweat, and tears of Sarah & Tom.
In 2013, the farm moved from rented land in Joppa, MD, to our own farm in Rising Sun, MD. Now, we produce certified organic veggies on 15 acres of beautiful hilltop soil, using our remaining acreage as pasture for our Cheviot sheep, Belgian & Suffolk Punch workhorses, and certified organic hens & broiler chickens.
We are first-generation farmers, which means we’ve learned a lot of lessons the hard way. But we know the produce is good, so we carry on. Our mission is to bring healthy, fresh, organic food to the many folks who live in the tri-state region of MD, DE, & PA.
Our Farming Principles
While growing great organic vegetables is the heart and soul of our Rising Sun, MD, farm, it wouldn’t be possible without our animals. Our organic pastured laying hens and organic meat chickens provide fertility for growing grasses and clovers. These grasses and clovers go to feed our sheep and draft horses.
While our draft horses do a large majority of our organic vegetable fieldwork, they also provide manure for composting, as do our sheep. This compost is turned and aerated and then spread on our cover crops, which grow for an entire season. Then it’s tilled in, creating the perfect fertile environment for our certified organic vegetables.
Our diversity is our strength and allows us to work toward a truly sustainable organic farm in Rising Sun, MD, that produces food for our region while caring for our land, vegetables, animals, and community.
The Soul of Our Work
Soil is living, and we should promote that life using compost, cover crops, and timely tillage.
Soil is an ecosystem, and we should protect it by not using synthetic chemicals to kill weeds and pests.
Soil is the foundation of our organic farm; healthy soil produces healthy produce. These help produce healthy farmers, horses, and livestock.
Meet the Farm Team
Sarah Rider
Farmer, Business & Financial Manager, Owner
Tom Paduano
Farmer & Owner
Rebecca Northrop
Sales, CSA Manager, Customer Service
Hailey Small
Packhouse Manager
Megan Weaver
Packhouse Team Lead
Conor Meades
Food Distribution Driver
Larry Anderson
Food Distribution Driver
Looking for Fresh Produce
We strive to make local, farm-fresh Maryland produce available to everyone within our community. Find us at our farm stand, convenient pickup locations, or right at your front door.
We’re available for pick-up or delivery in the following counties.
- Southern Chester County, PA
- Unionville, PA
- Kennett Square, PA
- Landenberg, PA
- Northern Delaware
- New Castle County, DE
- Wilmington, DE
- Newark, DE
Wondering if your town is in our farm area? Check to see if your zip code is in our home delivery range or if there’s a pickup location near you.
Work With Us
Flying Plow Farm, a certified organic farm in Cecil County, MD, specializes in vegetable production for our 600-member CSA, farmers’ markets, farm stand, and wholesale. We cultivate 13 acres, harvesting year-round, with 6.5 acres in cash crops during the season and the remainder in cover crops.
Our farm revolves around certified organic vegetable production, but livestock is essential to our farm’s operation. Draft horses assist with fieldwork, layer hens provide eggs, and we raise broiler chickens seasonally.
If you’re passionate about organic farming and available for full-time, year-long work, we encourage you to apply. Details on our open positions are below.
We seek crew members who:
- Are passionate and motivated about working on a diversified farm.
- Are observant, efficient, enthusiastic, self-motivated, responsible, and detail-oriented.
- Desire and can work long hours during the peak of the season in all types of weather.
- Are physically resilient. You should be able to lift and carry 50 pounds repeatedly, crouch, squat, and bend for long periods of time in all types of weather.
- Have a strong work ethic with a can-do, let ’s-get-it-done attitude.
- Desire to work as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- Have a sense of humor and a strong sense of perspective.
Open Positions
Farmers Market Helper
A seasonal position that runs from April through December. Work days are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Food Distribution Driver
Year round, part time position. Currently work days are Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Talk Produce With Us
If you have questions about any part of the CSA process or our Rising Sun, MD, organic farm, contact our team. We’re passionate about what we do and want you to feel the same.