Dave & Lee O’Neill
OWNERS | FARMERS | EDUCATORS
“One of our strengths is that we have both made our living solely from the farm, together, since it started. We bring different skill sets and are both driven and focused and proud of what we do. Our roles change and ebb and flow.”
Bluebird Farm (Williams, Oregon; 1999)
1997-1999
We graduate (Dave in ‘96, Lee in ‘97) from James Madison University in Virginia. We move out west. We work on farms and do apprenticeships: Dave at Horton Road Organics outside Eugene, Oregon; both of us at Bluebird Farm and Herb Pharm in Williams, Oregon, and a farm in Baja, California.
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A half-acre of rented land (Port Republic, Virginia; 2000)
2000
We move back east to get married and start our farm. Radical Roots Farm is born in 2000 on a half-acre of rented land in Port Republic, Virginia. We sell produce at farmers markets.
Selling produce at our first Farmers Market (Harrisonburg, Virginia; 2000)
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Learning organic farming in Australia (WWOOF program; 2001)
2001
We travel for a year in New Zealand and Australia. We bike around on a tandem bicycle—a wedding gift—and work on organic farms through the WWOOF Program.
We really rode around on a tandem bike (New Zealand; 2001)
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5-acre hayfield in Keezletown (October 2003)
2003
We lease land and sell at farmers markets 2002-2003. We buy a 5-acre hayfield in Keezletown, Virginia, in October 2003.
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2003-2020
We build: a greenhouse, a barn, tons of farm infrastructure, and a house. We grow: a farm, a business, hundreds of thousands of plants, and 2 humans—Isaiah (2005) and Miranda (2007).
We sell our organic vegetables at farmers markets and through our farm’s Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Beginning in 2004, we add nursery plant sales. In 2010, we add retail outlets: Whole Foods Markets (through 2023) and smaller local grocers (ongoing today).
We’re successful farmers!
But for a long time we strive to reach those who cannot afford our nutrient dense, organic produce.
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Pivoting in a pandemic (2020)
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic. Things are crazy. We are pivoting in every way possible.
During this time, we join forces with a local nonprofit called Vine & Fig. Together we secure our first small grant to bring our food to low-income families in our community.
We grow the produce, and they help with bagging and distribution.
It’s so successful that the city schools have us grow 500 bags a week for the month of November 2020. Vine and Fig heroically helps us bag those shares. 2,000 bags takes a long time with cold fingers!
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Shares of organic veggies for low-income & food-insecure people (Harrisonburg, Virginia; 2020)
2021-2022
In 2021, we brainstorm how to grow this partnership. We apply for and receive a VDACS grant for 2022.
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Growing and expanding thanks to continued funding from grants (Keezletown, Virginia; 2024)
2023
We get more funding for 2023-2025, and grow the program to include partner farms.
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somewhere along the way
Lee and our farm…are in a music video.
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TODAY
Here’s what the community program looks like today.
You can find our veggies and garden plants at small local grocers in VA, DC, and MD, and purchase our nursery plants at springtime garden festivals in VA, DC, and NC.
We also spend time educating, hosting events, mentoring and consulting.
More on that here.
“The radicle is the first emerging root of a germinating seed. It’s the root that starts the growing process gathering water and soil nutrients. As well, sort of unfortunately, when we started our farm in 2000, being organic was very forward thinking and radical. We wanted to contribute in a positive way to our world and this felt like the best way. ”