Alexys and Sean Carlton of Carlton Hill Farm on Valley Mills Road. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — A new small-scale sustainable farm in Wood County has been the dream of a couple once involved in the information technology industry.

Sean and Alexys Carlton bought the acre of land in Valley Mills in December 2023 and have since prepared Carlton Hill Farm to raise rabbit, quail and chicken meat, chicken and quail eggs, wildflowers, seasonal produce and nutrient-rich rabbit manure for the garden.

“This has been a dream of ours for a long time,” Sean said.

The Carltons were in information technology in the Eastern Panhandle for about 15 years, but “we’ve always had farming in our blood,” Alexys said. They are originally from Colorado and Aleyis spent summers at her grandparents’ farm in North Dakota.

The Carltons found the land on Valley Mills Road and immediately fell in love with it. Instead of turning the barn into a home, they lived in a camper for several months while getting the farm ready to begin production.

Processed chicken and eggs will be available at the new Carlton Hill Farm on Valley Mills Road. Owners and proprietors are Sean and Alexys Carlton, who left the information technology field and entered farming. (Photo Provided)

“Usually people turn the barn into a house,” Sean said.

Carlton Hill Farm at 458 Valley Mills Road has more than 150 rabbits, chickens and quail. Each has their own sections of the farm and are protected as much as possible from illnesses, such as the bird flu, Sean said.

“We take bio-security very seriously,” he said. “The safety and health of our animals is the No. 1 priority for us.”

Environmental consciousness also is a priority at the farm that is committed to keeping prices competitive or better than groceries stores and providing accessible fresh, locally raised food.

All meats are processed at the farm to ensure its control over the quality, ethics and sustainability of the operation.

The Carlton Hill Farm is located on one acre of land on Valley Mills Road. (Photo Provided)

By handling everything, from raising livestock to harvesting produce, the farm can keep costs low while maintaining high standards, Sean said.

“We do everything on site,” he said.

The Carltons also plan to open a roadside stand at the entrance to the farm. Opening is anticipated around mid-April and produce also will be available later in the season.

“We’re really excited about the farm stand,” Sean said.

Certified to sell rabbit, chicken and quail by the state Department of Agriculture, Carlton Hill Farm Boxes will be available in early to mid-June and will include a mix of fresh vegetables, herbs, wildflowers and eggs available weekly or bi-weekly by pickup or delivery. Boxes will provide seasonal selections with storage and handling tips.

Rabbit meat is processed on site at the Carlton Hill Farm on Valley Mills Road. (Photo Provided)

Preordering will allow customers to plan ahead and secure fresh food while ensuring availability, Sean said.

Products can be ordered on the Carlton Hill Farm website at www.carltonhillfarm.com.

Delivery is $5 while pickup at the farm is free. Delivery areas are in the 26101, 26104, 26105, 26142 and 26150 zip codes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The farm also will offer direct sales to local restaurants for ethically raised rabbit, quail and chicken, Sean said.

More information about the farm and how to place an order is available at www.carltonhillfarm.com or by email to info@carltonhillfarm.com. The phone number is 304-615-0114.

Jumbo and standard quail are raised at the Carlton Hill Farm. (Photo Provided)

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com

Carlton Hill Farm offers processed quail and quail eggs in addition to chicken and rabbit. (Photo Provided)