Here at Halvorson’s Hidden Harvest we make every effort to use responsible, efficient, and all natural growing methods to not only provide the highest quality of products to our community, but also to ensure our farm does not have a negative impact on our environment.

We have implemented the use of plasticulture, and fertigation on all of our annual crops to end the use of all chemical herbicides and fertilizers. Compost tea is brewed on a weekly basis and mixed with a fish emulsion solution and applied directly to the root zone of all vegetable plants.

This mixture is applied with a fertigation injector, right into the drip irrigation system. This allows us to control all the variables that otherwise cause environmental problems due to the runoff of excess fertilizers and pesticides into local waterways.

We employ a different method of control on all of our perennial crops in the fruit orchard. The irrigation system is still a drip style, but one that is used for permanent applications and does not require annual replacement.

Along all of the rows, we lay out thick layers of mulch to suppress weeds, conserve soil moisture, and to reduce the soil temperatures in the root zone. All of this mulch is obtained through local tree services that are more than happy to bring it out to the farm instead of taking it to the landfill.

Stewardship of the land is important to us. Not only is our farm a place to grow fruit, vegetables, and livestock, but it’s also a place for the entire community to grow personally through education, and hands on experience. Let’s work together to leave this Earth a better place for tomorrow.

As seasons change, there are some products that will not always be available. Check out the online store to see all of our up to date inventory and products!

Halvorson’s Hidden Harvest is veteran owned and operated by James and Amy Halvorson, along with two children.  The family farm is located in Temple, Texas. Conveniently located along Interstate 35 between Waco and Austin.  Our farm was established in 2012 with the intention of raising our family with a subsistence way of living. 

Following our military careers, we settled in Wisconsin and started a family.  Not long after, the call of the family farm drew us back to Texas in 2006. After purchasing the property from our grandparents, it took a few years to develop a plan of the perfect homestead.  Realizing that there is no perfect homestead, we jumped in feet first with a small flock of chickens and a kitchen garden. After several seasons (some good and some bad) and much trial and error, we discovered a passion for providing for ourselves. 

Overwhelmed with the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, we began sharing with family, friends, and the community. Through our hard work, we grew from a small kitchen garden to a scale that requires the use of drip irrigation, fertigation, plastic mulch, and MOTHER NATURE to grow on 4 acres. 

We’ve added additional livestock through the years to include goats, cattle, and even a pet donkey named Lovey.  The most recent addition to the farm is a fruit orchard to include apricots, peaches, plums, pomegranates, grapes, figs and 6 varieties of blackberries.

We strive to complete the circle of life by reusing and repurposing everything on our farm within reason.  We start from saving seed, to starting our own transplants, harvesting the produce, and processing the plant refuse to provide food to our livestock.  What cannot be eaten is composted and reused in the fields to begin the circle again. Other forms of repurposing we practice include: using the prunings from our grape vines to weave baskets, taking old feed sacks and creating reusable tote bags and tablecloths, using old plastic barrels as planters, and many more.

With Amy’s background as a teacher, and James’s passion for growing, we feel inspired to educate our entire community and share our knowledge.  Plan on joining us in the future for educational workshops and “U-Pick” fruits and vegetables. We sincerely look forward to our family getting to know yours.