Along a heavily wooded fork of the Trinity River, three miles south of Aledo, a small farm with a big heart is producing bountiful crops exclusively for particular consumers — people who need help making ends meet. With a minimal crew and a few volunteers the people of Clearfork Creek Farm are honoring a dream of their forebears to grow crops with love for those who can’t afford delicious, organic produce.
Lee and Ellen Greer are dedicated to making the unique farm flourish, honoring an idea hatched decades ago in their family tree. Lee, who retired in 2018 from the restaurant industry and is a master gardener, explained it was a dream of his wife’s father to give to people in need.
“Ellen’s mother was Norma Miller and she was the daughter of Clara Smyth Brown, who was the daughter of Lester Smyth, who settled in Parker County in 1910 on about 400 acres,” Lee explained. “He drove his cattle from Aledo to Fort Worth down Camp Bowie Blvd.”
Ellen’s father, Byron Miller, had dreams of starting what he called “a secret garden,” an organic farm that would serve the needs of the people. As family heirs later acquired the land, Ellen received 40 acres where Clearfork Creek Farms now operates. The garden itself is a fertile one acre near the river.
“That acre has a special memory for me because my great aunt Flora [Smyth], of Floras Road that you drive down to get to our farming area, she had no children and never married,” Ellen explained. “So when she died she left an acre of land to her great nieces and nephews. So this is my acre of land that she left me. When we were kids she would take us fishing there in the Trinity River and I remember that, so it is special to me that we started the garden on that acre that Aunt Flora gave me.”
Clearfork Creek Farm was established in 2020 with all crops being donated to public aid organizations. The Greers have chosen to donate their food to Parker County Center of Hope and Crowley House of Hope.
Center of Hope CEO Staci Markwardt explained many of the individuals and families the organization serves do not have fresh produce because of financial constraints, making Clearfork Creek Farm’s contribution a valuable ingredient in filling that need.
“Access to fresh produce has transformed what we can offer in our food pantry,” Markwardt said. “For years, we relied heavily on non-perishable items like canned goods and dry staples, which are essential but often lack the nutrients our participants need for a balanced diet.”
Hennah Corrao is the farm manager at Clearfork Creek and there are two part-time employees, but the Greers welcome volunteers and donations to sustain the effort.
“It’s a big job when it comes to harvest, so we would love to have volunteers come help us out,” Lee said.
The farm donates a little more than 1,500 pounds of produce a year with a goal of 10,000 pounds.
“Our mission is to help those who are less fortunate and to provide fresh, healthy grown produce,” Lee said. “We grow a little bit of everything - asparagus, tomatoes, lettuce, beets, radishes…” and Ellen chimed in, “potatoes, onions, garlic, artichokes, and just everything.”
Clearfork Farm is a 501c3 non-profit. To contact the farm about volunteering or to donate to the farm, visit www.clearforkcreek.farm or call 817-917-9800.
If you or someone you know could benefit from food, education programs and services of Parker County Center of Hope, call 817-594-0266 or visit www.centerofhopetx.com.
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