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Jim and Moie Kimball Crawford own and operate New Morning Farm, a 95-acre certified-organic vegetable farm in south-central Pennsylvania. They have two children, Arlo, born in 1978, and  Janie, born in 1982. The Crawfords have farmed organically for over 30 years. Starting on rented land in 1972, Jim began growing a wide variety of vegetable crops on small acreage, with practically no capital and little experience. From the start all produce was direct-marketed in Washington, D.C. Moie joined him on his rented land in West Virginia in 1974.
In 1976 Jim and Moie purchased their present farm, which had been a small, conventional dairy operation. With ambitious, innovative financing and much trial and error, they gradually built their soils organically, accumulated appropriate equipment, and designed and built various buildings for their specific purposes.
N ew Morning Farm now produces approximately 40 different crops, all certified organic. Crops include berries and herbs in addition to most standard garden vegetables. The farm employs, besides the family, one or two year-round helpers and approximately 15 seasonal workers and apprentices. The farming apprenticeship program is well-developed and has helped a number of aspiring growers to get started in farming.
Over the years, the Crawfords have built a many-faceted, successful direct-marketing system. They started and operated a roadside stand in years past. They have organized two now-well-established farmers markets and helped found a wholesale marketing cooperative with a group of growers - Tuscarora Organic Growers. New Morning Farm markets (both wholesale and retail) various locally-produced foods year-round in addition to its own produce.
New Morning Farm is equipped with a heated greenhouse, two high-tunnel cold frames, an extensive irrigation system, a packing shed with refrigeration, and implements, tractors, and trucks. There is also a house for a flock of 250 laying hens.
Having started from scratch and taking the attitude that “we will try anything once," the Crawfords have had the opportunity to test a great many approaches, theories, and techniques in their complex but integrated operation. They are willing and able to share their knowledge and experience with others. They hope to attract others to farming and to their geographical area, believing that sustainable agriculture is of benefit to us all.
The Crawfords have been active members from the planning stages of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (P.A.S.A.), and Jim was a member of the first Board of Directors. Both Jim and Moie were honored in 2002 with the annual Leadership Award from P.A.S.A. They have presented workshops a number of times at P.A.S.A. conferences over the years, and they have conducted field days at their farm attended by other local growers. Both have discussed family farming and organic agriculture on National Public Radio and in numerous publications including the Washington Post and the New York Times.
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