Grandpa’s Orchard

About the Book

Every year on the hazelnut farm, magic happens. It’s a place where stories, music, good food, family, and friends come together year round—but as summer comes to an end, things begin to change. On this working farm, the boys watch Dad and Grandpa do the tasks that need to be done as they head to the arbor to play, climb trees, and dream up new adventures.

The totes are stacked high on the farm, and the tractor and harvester are ready for Mother Nature’s sign. Even the young boys know that great care must be taken to keep the orchard floor clean and prepared for when the nights become cooler and the nuts begin to fall. Suddenly, harvest time begins and so too the flurry of activity on the farm!

Grandpa and Dad are hardworking farmers who have learned how to care for the land. They pass on respect of the hazelnut farm, the place they call home, to the next generation as youngsters watch and grow like the trees on their family farm. Someday, these little boys will be the adults, and then, it will be their turn to work hard and care for the Earth’s many treasures.

“A fun portrayal of a multi-generational farming family and farm life told from a youngster’s perspective. Grandpa’s passion for farming and desire to pass on the tradition is genuine and heartfelt.” 

—TJ Hafner, third-generation family farmer, agronomist

About the Author

Darcy Thomas Kirk lives in Independence, Oregon, with her twin sons and her husband, Lance, where they farm a third generation hazelnut farm. She attended Oregon State University and worked for Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom, aligning agriculture projects with state educational standards for seven years.