Thistledown Farm
Sure, here in the Willamette Valley, anyone can grow a tomato. Or strawberries. Or a pumpkin. Rich soil, abundant water and prime weather conditions make it easy. But imagine growing thousands of pounds of crops – 75 sorts, to be exact. And starting all of them from seed. It’s a big job for a small farm. And yet, since 1981 Randy and Pam Henderson and their family have been doing just that, at Thistledown Farm on River Road, between Eugene and Junction City, Oregon.
The picturesque red barn and farm outbuildings signal fun and bounty to generations of Eugene and Springfield area families. Many consider a trip to Thistledown as a fall event, but all spring and summer, the farm offers a full range of fresh vegetables, fruit, hazelnuts and even beef and bakery items made from the farm’s harvest. The farm stand is open from early spring until right after the bustle of Halloween, but the work goes on all year.
“Thistledown would be nothing without its loyal customers. We love seeing the same familiar faces out at the farm each week.”
The crop and plant selection is strategic – taking advantage of fields, greenhouses and orchards to time things just right in order to always be planting or picking at least one type of produce, fruit or other offering at a time – but not so much that it’s too much to handle.
What began as a small farm in 1981 has grown to more than 800 acres. Whether the farm supports the family, or the family supports the farm depends on your perspective. Life without the farm is hard to imagine. But it would be nothing without the diligent work and prudent work by the family to expand offerings from basics like strawberries, to grow perennials, annuals and hanging baskets, and the addition of hazelnut/filbert trees. One thing is for sure though: Thistledown would be nothing without its loyal customers. We love seeing the same familiar faces out at the farm each week.
Learn which vegetable’s and fruit are in season now and what’s coming soon here. Find us, and check our hours here. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for special deals, and sign up to receive our eNews at bottom of this page (in the website ‘footer’) to track what’s ready to eat, seasonal specials and fun events for the all the family!