A bit about us and the farm:
We love animals and gardening. So, after moving to Pistol River in 1994, we started improving our place gradually adding a few animals that we wanted to have on it because we enjoyed them.
Mainly horses, sheep, and goats. We also had a good size garden as produce is the best.
Then in 2005 when George retired he added more gardens, more animals and opened the farm so people could come and visit the farm and buy fresh naturally grown produce. Being centrally located between Gold Beach and Brookings on the beautiful South Coast of Oregon it allowed him to bring in the tourists as well as cater to the locals in the two towns. He called it GB&K Farm, standing for George, Becky and then added the K for their daughter, Kylie. Then in 2007 he started staying open all year with the addition of a greenhouse. In the meantime, he soon found that many asked if they could come and bring their children to see farm life firsthand, have fun and learn about gardens, gardening, and farm animals. In 2007, he opened the farm up so visitors could come see a working farm, learn about a farmers life, participate if they want, and also pet and play with the farm friends. He thought that this would afford an opportunity to those who have never been to a farm and had this experience. He enjoys having all the visitors at the farm. Then in 2008 he added 50 chickens and expanded to selling eggs at the farm on a self serve basis. He later added another 50 chickens for more eggs because of demand for our fresh natural cage free chicken eggs. They now has over 100 different happy birds and chickens including Missy the peahen, the silki's, ducks and Gobble the turkey, not to mention all the other things visitors can see when they come visit the farm. In 2010 he started making peperoncini eggs. In 2011 thirteen flavors of pasteuized goat cheese ( spread and feta) made daily by Becky were added and made available at the farm, fresh or frozen. Also duck eggs were added for sale. In 1012 turkeys were added so people can purchase them and their eggs.
Running a farm requires a lot of time and effort. It is a fully operational farm, even though it is only located on 2+ acres it has a lot to offer and lots more than some bigger farms. It is a one of a kind operation located in some of the most beautiful country on the southern Oregon Coast and the farm is beautiful to see too. It takes a lot of hard work and expense to keep up the farm, work the gardens and take care of the animals. Some tasks that have to be done are: feeding twice a day and some with grain for those who need it, shots, medicines, hoof and toe nail care, watering, exercising the animals daily, cleaning the stalls, runs and water containers and milking the goats. Sometimes bottle fed babies have to be fed 4-5 times a day. On occasion some animals have to be hauled to the vets for something. Have to haul in hay, feed, etc. The new goat babies start coming around January through March, depending when they are bred. Even though the farm is small George plants around 5000 sq feet of gardens in the summer, with over 1500 square feet producing all winter, this does not include the fruit trees and berries the farm has, all of which require weeding, planting and watering. Many a day it requires going from early morning until very late at night. Eggs have to be picked every day, cleaned, candled, scaled, packaged and made ready for those coming the next day. Even with all the work, farm life can be very gratifying and being retired and a farmer has it's rewards. Occasionally there are visitors from all over the world that come to see the farm and get some of the naturally grown products.
A bit about George,
He was raised on a 85 acre farm when he was young and started out at 9 years old driving a tractor while his dad loaded grape lugs on a trailer. On the farm they had walnuts, almonds, alfalfa, sweet potatoes, water melons and grapes. Not to mention a huge garden and fruit trees. He took 4 years of FFA agricultural science and mechanics while in high school. When he was 13 he was working for other farmers to earn extra money as well as on the family farm. When 16, because of one of the neighbor farmer's husband passing away, he became manger for a 60 acre farm. He also did tractor work for others in the community besides working as a janitor after school. When 17 he wound up taking over the family farm until it was sold. Upon graduating from high school he went to Modesto junior college and Chabot college and studied Journalism, after 2 years he entered the USCG reserve and went to work for Pay Less Drug Stores and worked his way up to manager in Oakland. He was then sent to a huge store in Canoga Park just in time for the 1970 earthquake. After 9 years with PayLess he left and opened a RV parts store for the Dixon Mobile homes in Reno. Later he added a wholesale part to their business for them that was a tremendous success. With his contract completed for them he left and went to work for Commerical hardware in Reno as their hardware dept. manager and then became their representative to the Hotels and Casinos. At that time a place was purchased in Lemon Valley north of Reno, it was turned into a mini farm with gardens, horses and other animals. After 14 years there he retired from the hardware store and moved to Gold Beach and opened his own hardware, pet, RV and marine store (Gold Beach Hardware and RV, home of Gold Beach Zoo & Aquarium). He moved because he loved fishing in the Ocean and traveled back and forth to Gold Beach for years. He closed his store in 1993 and went to work for Fred Meyer when they were under construction and started and managed their sports and auto dept until he retired in 2005. In 1993 he and Becky met and were married in 1994 and moved to Pistol River where they started the farm they have today.
A bit about Becky,
She has always had a love for animals and has had horses all her life. She had a large 4-H horse group of 20 children and they did lots of fun things together like camping, swimming the horses, picnics, trail rides, parades and much more. She's worked for the school systems in California and is now currently working at here primary job for the school system in Gold Beach as a Special Ed aide. She attained a degree through college where she majored in Psychology and Early Childhood Education and graduated on the President's honor roll. She is very knowledgeable about various animals and their health and because of this is a great asset to George with the farm. All those years she carried a healthy love for gardening and always had a beautiful flower garden as well as vegetables and helps George with that part when ever she has time. She trained hunting dogs as a past time and was very successful at it. She loves farm life very much and is looking forward to retirement so she can spend more time on the farm with George, the animals and even help him with the rest of the farm chores.