our TRADITION
Many farms say that term “multi generational,” and they are. If you like trivia … do you know what you call a family that has been farming the same land since 1700’s? Answer: Burch Farms.
Here’s a brief overview of the history of our land, as well as a few other Burch Farms highlights
1740′s
Our family history in Eastern North Carolina has been traced to the mid 1600’s. Beginning in the 1740’s, records indicate our ancestors began settling on the land that is now Duplin County and Sampson County.
In 1775, six hundred acres were issued to our ancestor, Jethro Oates, in Duplin County and the deed reads, “Beginning at a pine about 40 poles to eastward of the main road, a corner tree of Elias Faison’s land (pine on east side of Cabin branch).”
If you like fun facts about history like we do ….
Prior to the Revolutionary War, when land was surveyed, the “metes and bounds” system was used to define boundaries. The system is still in existence today for the original 13 colonies, along with a few more states.
The word “metes” is defined as the direction and distance of a line; the line forming the boundary of the property. Various forms of measurement were used to determine distance (example: pole = 16.5 ft)
“Bounds” refers to the naming of physical features in defining the boundaries of the land. Common terms might be the name of a tree, creek, owners of land bordering the property and even piles of rocks. This explains some of the interesting boundary shapes on maps from land surveyed during this time!
To learn more about the historical mapping process, thanks to familysearch.org, click here.
1800′s to 1900′s
Our family lived off the land, growing crops native to North Carolina and raised pigs, cows, and chickens.
As well as sustaining the family, in the 1900′s the farm also began growing other crops for sale such as corn, cotton, and tobacco.
1950
Burch Farms was “officially” established.
1999
Burch Farms obtains organic certification for portions of its sweet potato crop. Though, organic farming has never been a trend to us. It is pretty much how we farm. Then in 1999, someone gave it a name.
2000
Burch Farms identified people’s busy lives were moving food preparation towards convenience. At the same time, people still wanted to eat healthily. Offering bagged greens, in which the leaves were pre-washed and trimmed seemed like a logical step for us. This idea seems to have caught on.
2006
Partnered with area growers to form Yamco. The sweet potato puree company. Learn more about Yamco by visiting: www.Yamco.net
2012
We invented our award winning Sweet Potato Covington Vodka. Our gourmet vodka may be purchased at all NC ABC retail beverage locations as well as online at internetwines.com. Check out what NC State University wrote about it by clicking here.
2014
Asparagus! Burch Farms will be the first to grow asparagus on a large scale on the east coast. Lower food miles. Better taste.