Horton Heirlooms

General property information

A beautiful, historic 80-acre property held within our family for over 150 years as an established NC Century Farm. We are actively diversifying the land by introducing a fresh seasonal vegetable plot and a massive, modern specialty fruit orchard. The production layout includes a block of well-established family peach trees alongside our rapidly expanding new plantings of figs, native persimmons, and pineapple guavas. Approximately 40 acres of fenced pasture is utilized for cattle (fully managed independently), leaving the remaining acreage dedicated to our high-growth orchard expansion and intensive propagation zones.

Property features

Fencing
Greenhouse

Feature details

Water: Brand new agricultural well being drilled next month; transitioning system to automated drip lines and high-capacity irrigation.

Structures: Two smaller hoop house frames on-site, currently being prepped for poly covers. Active propagation is managed utilizing an established greenhouse facility nearby.

Fencing: Secure perimeter fencing already installed.

Equipment: Classic, reliable working setup including hand tools, power tools (weed eater with auger attachment), a commercial mower, an old Ford tractor, and an Economy Power King. As production scales, our equipment inventory will grow alongside it. Excellent opportunity for someone who respects traditional, reliable machinery.

Current production on farm

Flowers / Herbs
Honey bees
Orchard / Vineyard
Vegetables

Production details

Active production is focused on expanding into a premier, high-volume regional fruit orchard. Current plantings feature a diverse mix of specialty crops, including an expanding commercial fig footprint, established peach blocks, Native American persimmons, and unique pineapple guavas. The property also features honey bees for targeted orchard pollination and a seasonal vegetable cultivation block. This diverse layout offers an incredible hands-on look at managing multiple distinct fruit varieties with varying seasonal schedules on a single, cohesive farm.

Current & past farming practices

Ecological production but not certified

Practice details

Transitioning the acreage into an elite, highly efficient commercial specialty fruit orchard. Because we have a massive, active creek on the property, environmental stewardship is a massive priority. While we are not USDA certified organic, we strictly utilize sustainable and organic field production practices to protect our watershed. Interns will learn how to accurately monitor tree health using clean biological and integrated pest management (IPM) protocols, execute clean propagation techniques, and maintain rigorous orchard routines designed to optimize yields safely and sustainably.

Opportunity

Job or Learning Opportunity

Employment / Internship / Mentorship

Opportunity details

Seeking a part-time farm hand or ag intern to help manage a rapidly expanding specialty fruit orchard. This historic property has been in our family for over 150 years (an official NC Century Farm), and we are currently transitioning the acreage into a high-volume commercial orchard. This is an incredible learning environment for anyone wanting to see how a historic family farm is diversified, designed, and scaled for modern specialty crop production. Key tasks include orchard floor maintenance, weeding, manual watering, and hoop house prep. Production work spans our primary acreage and a secondary, nearby greenhouse facility.

Additional Details

Additional information about this property

Landowner manages operations actively and plans to reside on-site in the near future. For a reliable worker who demonstrates exceptional work ethic and takes true ownership of their responsibilities, we are open to discussing the temporary use of a designated gravel pad to park a self-contained camper a few nights a week. Note: There is currently no electricity, well water, or sewage infrastructure on-site, so any setup must be fully off-grid and self-contained. This arrangement is strictly temporary, tied directly to active employment boundaries, and designed to support a dedicated part-time team member.

Horton Heirlooms

Available