Our Story
Four Generations & Counting
Standing on the shoulder of giants.
Upon MacClan Farm's 2026 designation as a Century Farm, Hunter and Kelsey walk together with their kiddos in the footsteps of giants — the fourth generation to steward this family farm. With a passion for the power of plants for health, and an awe for the beauty of creation, they are welcoming guests into Taste + See Refuge @GardenworksFarm.
Step into the farmland, amble the fields, and pick as you wish — a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, a snack of cherry tomatoes, a dessert of juicy blueberries, a cup of tea.
Two farm stays invite you to linger. The Respite Cabin — a seasonal off-grid retreat, quiet and unhurried, tucked into the land. And the Beam & Bloom Suite — an all-season oasis in the stunning post and beam barn, with a clawfoot tub and farmhouse charm.
Some stories begin with a single seed.
In 1911 a farmer planted his first crop in the Black Creek Valley. He couldn't have known what would grow from it — not just the fields, but the family, the traditions, the generations of hands that would follow his into the same soil.
This is that farm, and we are honored to be here.
Hunter grew up on these acres — spending his summers harvesting and drying flowers alongside his mom Meg, and sister, Elizabeth. They went to markets and fairs together, and joined in workshops, learning the rhythms of the farm. Now he and his wife Kelsey are raising their own children in the same fields, breathing the same valley air…four generations and counting.
We are honored to be the fourth generation to steward this land — something not to take lightly. Not the history, nor responsibility, nor the profound gift of being trusted with something this old and this beautiful. While we didn't build this breathtaking place, we chose it, every day — to carry it forward, to pour ourselves into it, to ensure that what those before us planted and grew and loved doesn't end on our watch. We have learned from those before, stewardship is not a passive thing. It is an act of daily devotion.
We are so grateful for every person who visits, every bouquet, berry, and bounty picked, every potluck table shared — every one of those moments helps keep this land what it has always been. A farm. A gathering place. A refuge. Ours, and yours.
The Story of MacClan Farm
It began in 1911, when Great Grandpa Foster planted the first seed on the McEachron Family Farm — MacClan Farms — to feed his chickens and cows in the Black Creek Valley. His youngest son Harold graduated from Cornell and expanded the farm to 300 acres, 200 cows, and 50,000 chicken!
As markets and abilities changed, Grandpa transitioned to specialty crops — blueberries, raspberries, pumpkins, and Christmas trees. The land adapted, a first pivot.
In 1992, Grandpa Harold's daughter Meg — a Cornell horticulture graduate, following in the footsteps of her father, returned home with her family and pivoted the farm in a new direction. With a passion for growing, a market sense on the trend of dried flowers, and a gift for gathering people, she opened Gardenworks @MacClan Farms. Over thirty years, Meg and Rob have built a beautiful legacy — a marketplace, workshops, a stunning summer café that became a destination in its own right, and hosted exquisite evenings celebrating the arts in partnership with Fort Salem Theater — bringing live performances, and all of the hospitality that made Gardenworks legendary to the farm; art shows and gatherings of every kind. Gardenworks became a pillar of the community — a destination farm at the intersection of Arts and Agriculture. Each season familiar faces return, with growing generations of their own, a testament to what Meg and Rob have built here.
Hunter grew up in all of it — and now, with Kelsey, he is bringing a new chapter rooted in the same soil. Hunter as a Family Practice and Lifestyle Medicine physician, Kelsey as a Food for Life instructor — together they are welcoming guests to taste and see the bounty of the Black Creek Valley in a whole new way.
The story continues…
Importantly, Meg and Rob remain beloved purveyors of the farm — offering pop up events as they come, and wedding flower design as well.
We hope you will continue to join all of us — to honor those who came before, and to enjoy the beauty, bounty, and refuge of this place.
"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him."
— Psalm 34:8
Certified in cut flowers, in progress, along with GAP certification for berries and produce
Grown Safely
Energized by regenerative agriculture and blown away by the power of soil microbes and the ecosystem naturally in place among creation, Hunter and Kelsey are passionate about growing with an emphasis on staying out of nature’s way. Vegetable and herb seeds purchased are always certified organic (from Johnny’s Seeds or High Mowing), or heirloom (from Baker Creek Seeds). Any products ever used are OMRI certified (organic materials review institute), as required when pursuing certification. The farm is New York Grown and Certified for cut flowers and herbs, and in progress, along with GAP certification, for our berries and vegetables. We are also pursuing certification with NOFA NY for organic growing practices. Our children frolic and pick at will, and we welcome yours do to the same. Take joy in this place, a refuge in all ways!
For Your Family &
Ours
Meet the Team
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Hunter
Truly at home on the farm where he grew up, Hunter is energized and settled with hefty farmwork and wood splitting. An introvert, the quietness and strength of the tasks are lifeblood for him. His day job finds him loving and caring for the local community as a family practice physician focused on preventative medicine. He loves laughing and goofing around with the kiddos and cooking too. A graduate of West Point he served in Iraq and completed his service in Washington, DC.
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Kelsey
A lover of creation- flowers and plant based health, Kelsey can be found planting, tending, cooking and creating. Primarily she is loving on and homeschooling the kiddos. A certified Food for Life Instructor she teaches classes at the new Hudson Headwaters Teaching Kitchen in Salem. Kelsey is from Texas where she graduated from Texas A&M University. Prior to farming and homeschooling Kelsey was found on Capitol Hill in DC pursuing a career in politics, policy and lobbying.
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Jose and Jacob
After 20 years, Jose, the farm’s caretaker, has a partner in crime with the addition of Jacob to the farm. Jose hails from his family’s farm in Mexico, and works for another local ranch as well. Jacob hails from Berlin, NY. He works at Fronhoffer tool during the week and mechanics by night. Both gentlemen are treasures to our family, Jacks of All Trades, and we are thankful for them.
