ARNKA Acres Information

Hi! My name is Farmer Rachel and I'm the main Farmer at ARNKA Acres. We are a small, first generation family farm growing vegetables on 1 acre of our homestead in Dike, IA. We started the farm business in 2009 with dreams of growing delicious tasting vegetables so we never had to eat bland grocery store veggies again and allowing others to do the same. We have three kids, Nate (age 22), Kaity (age 17), and Izzy (age 14), who each have an integral place in the farm business. Farmer Andy and I bought our first house in 2002. It was in rural Parkersburg. I really didn't want to move to the country but Andy convinced me to try it for at least two years. The only people I knew who lived in the country were my grandparents. They had a big garden so I decided I should plant one too. I had no idea what I was doing, but I jumped in with both feet (typical of me). That first year I grew just as many weeds as crops, but somehow we ended up with WAY too much produce for our little family. I couldn't believe how delicious the carrots, peas, beans, and lettuce tasted! I mean, it was unlike anything in our local grocery stores. I was immediately hooked on growing my own food. I couldn't read enough books and seed catalogs about the best varieties for our hardiness zone and different techniques for being self-sufficient on less than an acre. Of course I told everyone...and I mean everyone...about gardening and how they needed to start one for themselves. I kept getting the same basic response from them: They loved the taste of fresh, local produce but they didn't want to grow it themselves. They either were too busy or didn't have enough space. Some even said they just didn't want to go to all that work. (WHAT?!) Fast forward a few years... Life took us away from the country for awhile, but as soon as we moved back, we tilled a garden. As in, less than 24 hours after moving into our new farmhouse in Dike. I sold veggies at the Parkersburg farmers market again for a few years, but homeschooling three kids made it more ...