Coal Region Canary’s Small Business Showcase heads to the farm for our latest feature.
In this ongoing series, we celebrate the heart and soul of our community—the local businesses that imbue our region with unique charm and vitality.
As we share the stories of these dedicated entrepreneurs based in the coal region, we showcase their exclusive products and services that contribute to our local economy.
Be sure to support the businesses we feature here and all small businesses in the region.
Today, we’re learning more about Honey Brook Farm.
| Business Name | Honey Brook Farm |
|---|---|
| Business Owners | Angela and Josiah Meck |
| Contact Information | Email: honeybrookfarmpa@gmail.com, Phone: +1 484-553-6854 |
| Location | 310 Deiberts Valley Rd, Schuylkill Haven, PA, 17972 |
| Website | honeybrookfarmpa.com |
| Honey Brook Farm | |
| Hours of Operation | On-site farm store: Wednesdays and Fridays 3 to 7; Online ordering 24/7 |
| Payment Methods Accepted | Cash, credit cards, debit cards, mobile payments (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Wallet), checks, gift cards, online payments (e.g., PayPal, Stripe) |
| Description of Products and Services | Pasture-raised beef, pork, chicken, and turkey |
| Year Established | 2019 |
Q&A with Angela and Josiah Meck, owners of Honey Brook Farm
What inspired you to start this business, and how did your personal journey lead you here?
“Josiah has always had a passion for agriculture and the opportunity to have a farm of our own was a lifelong dream.
“After having children, the importance of healthy food became a real passion of ours, and being able to raise healthy meats for our family became a priority … a priority for us and also for our customers.”
What unique products or services do you offer that can’t be found elsewhere in our community?
“There are fewer and fewer farms selling meat right to consumers. We offer convenient ways to buy our meat, from in-person shopping at our farm to online ordering with delivery.
“The quality of our product brings people back again and again. Often we hear just how different and how much better our farm-fresh meat tastes than anything the customers have had before… other times we have customers tell us how the meat reminds them of a childhood meal or ham the old-fashioned way – back before shipping meat across the country (or worse, importing meats) was the norm.”
How does your business contribute to the local community or participate in community events?
“Honey Brook Farm proudly supports agriculture education for our community, especially children. We have hosted school groups such as Jerusalem Child Care Center for field trips to see the animals and lunches in our pavilion.
“Josiah has volunteered to teach high school classes about agriculture at Schuylkill Haven Area High School.
“At Kutztown Area High School, we helped facilitate a hands-on FFA course with two of our pigs which the students raised at the school barn, then sold the meat as a fundraiser. After which Josiah was able to come back and teach a detailed class on agriculture economics specific to pricing meat.
“We are active with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, the Jefferson Grange, and other community groups.”
Can you share an interesting fact or story about your business that most people may not know?
“Our children are the sixth generation to work and play on this farm. Angela’s great-great-grandfather purchased the farm around the 1910s for its proximity to the growing market, selling food to the Anthracite coal miners of Pottsville and Minersville. Our farm was a dairy, Honey Brook Dairy, run by Angela’s great-grandmother Stella, until the early 1960s.”
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a small business, and how did you overcome it?
“Our greatest triumph has been purchasing the farm we live and work on. Buying land is no small task, and we were honored to be able to purchase a piece of family history as well.
“Being a small business is challenging regardless, but starting out in farming without any equipment, brings many hurdles. We have made connections with local neighboring farmers and have been able to scale out operations through leasing and borrowing until we’re able to purchase our own.
“Selling direct to consumer requires loads of marketing – much of which we’ve learned since starting. One of our greatest triumphs was selling our meat to our first restaurant – the Brickhouse in Orwigsburg, and then to grocery stores like Healthy Habits in Orwigsburg and the Sunny Cupboard outside Lake Wynonah.”
What do you want customers to experience when they interact with your business?
“We want our customers to experience the best tasting meat they’ve ever had.
“Our livestock is raised on our farm, butchered locally, and the meat is brought back to our farm to sell. It’s an old-fashioned experience to be able to buy meat right from the source.
“It’s not just a novelty, it’s a flavor and quality unmatched from any grocery store.”
What are your future plans or dreams for your business? Are there any upcoming projects or expansions you’re excited about?
“Our future plans are to continue to grow our farm and our meat sales. We will be opening the Farm Store in Pottsville, a farm-to-table grocery store that will offer our meats, as well as products from farms and producers all over Schuylkill County and the surrounding area.”
Submitted photos
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