The original Miller Farm on Indian Rock Dam Road, consisting of about 27 acres, was purchased on April 1st, 1912, by my great grandfather Howard Miller. My grandfather Jacob was a good businessman and soon acquired several neighboring farms. Jacob also built the first greenhouse in 1929 to grow vegetable transplants as opposed to starting with seed in the field, giving him a 3–4 week advantage over his competition at the local farmers’ markets in York. Other farmers asked him to supply transplants and that is how the greenhouse end of the business got started. My father John and my mother Betty are responsible for much of the growth in the greenhouse business. I am the 4th generation; my son Dustyn, my daughter Courtney Fauth and my nephew Steven Slyder represent the 5th generation to till the same soil.

Today we grow about 50 acres of vegetables each season, still producing vegetable transplants for commercial growers in PA and beyond, as well as home gardeners. It seems that each generation is responsible for major steps in growing the business. On April 1st, 2011, the present-day garden center opened and gave us a modern facility to sell our products. My wife Diane managed the store part of the garden center until her passing in 2018. My daughter Courtney left her job to come back to the farm and take her place. It is a blessing to see the next generation step up and take pride in the family business!

Our busiest time is the month of May with plant sales at the garden center and planting season on the farm. Homegrown produce sales begin in late May through November. Much of our produce is sold through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) which we have grown from 100 members in 2012 to now over 600 members.

The Snyder Farm, consisting of just under 100 acres, which we recently preserved with FNLT, was purchased by Miller Plant Farm on July 13, 1998. The farm was owned by Luther and Viola Snyder who were retiring. It is located between the original Miller Farm and the Keeney Farm at 194 Indian Rock Dam Road. The Keeney Farm came up for sale in 2021.

Paul Keeney’s wish was that it remains in farming, so we encouraged him to preserve it with FNLT. Doing so not only fulfilled his wish; it also was a great benefit to him for tax purposes. His farm totaled 114 acres and was more than any of the neighbors wanted to buy, so a group consisting of Perrydell, Keel-Mar and Miller Plant Farm agreed to purchase the farm and divide it. The process was complicated but was done without any disagreements among the three parties, which we were told that fact alone was somewhat rare!

These properties are located less than 2 miles from the Leader Heights interchange of Interstate 83 and are certainly prime for development. The Keeney Farm and the Snyder Farm make up a total of over 200 contiguous acres preserved by FNLT in York Township for generations to come.

The north end of the Snyder farm offers a beautiful view of York County that stretches all the way to Ski Roundtop. Several spring fed streams originate on the property adding to its beauty. Wildlife is abundant and the wooded areas offer great habitat. Most of the tillable land is rented to Perrydell to help feed their dairy herd. Miller Plant Farm uses about four acres with the best view for our “pick your own pumpkin” patch that we give wagon rides to during our Fall Festival events.

When I look at a map of York County, I see that the city of York and its suburbs have expanded in all directions except southwest where our farms lie. The rolling hills of York County are too beautiful to lose to development. Open space is a blessing for all to enjoy.

Preservation with FNLT has been a very good experience. There were many discussions among the family and FNLT to make sure it was a good fit for Miller Plant Farm and our neighbors. Personally, I have many pleasant memories of roaming these properties for over sixty years. My wish is that it remains unspoiled for generations to come.

-Originally published in the Farm & Natural Lands Trust 2024 Newsletter Volume 6