Preserving the past for future generations

In the center of Highland Township, located down a narrow, dead-end road, lies a farm preserved with the Land Conservancy of Adams County with a lot of stories. These stories come from generations of a single family at Maggie’s Farm Gettysburg. Maggie’s Farm Gettysburg is a local farm co-founded by Scott and Blythe Woods specializing in cut and potted flowers, herbs, and produce.

The property has been in the family going back to the 18th century, when the original owner, William McGaughy, farmed the land. Years later at the turn of the 20th century, another William McGaughy operated the farm until he sold it after his wife passed away. His daughter Margaret McGaughy was upset by the news, having loved the farm where she grew up. The story goes that years later, after Margaret was married, she was blindfolded and told she was to be taken to where she would spend the rest of her life. When she arrived, it was her family’s farm. Her husband bought it for them to live in and raise their future family. After her passing in 1977, the property was passed to her two sons.  A year later William “Bill” Woods bought out his brother, and with his wife, Laurel, owned the farm for the next 40 years until his death in 2019.  The property was then transferred to Scott Woods, Bill’s son and Margaret’s grandson, and his wife Blythe. The name Maggie’s Farm Gettysburg is in honor of Scott’s grandmother Margaret who he nicknamed “Maggie” as a child. “We’ve always thought of it as her farm,” explains Blythe.

Maggie Woods, as her grandson and family knew her later in life, loved the land and the farm, and that love passed down through her son and grandson. In 2006, the property was preserved by Bill and Laurel Woods with the Land Conservancy of Adams County, protecting its agricultural resources and wildlife habitat in perpetuity. The Woods take great care of the property and environment by participating in various conservation projects with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). They have an acre of their farm dedicated to pollinators, half of which is specific to plants that foster monarch butterfly habitat. Currently they are working with NRCS to build an irrigation system to keep their farm running healthily. All their practices align the purpose of preservation with their mantra being, “We are: Nurturing the land, while preserving the past for future generations.” Each Saturday they take their flowers and produce to the Adams County Farmers Market and share their history and passion with the community. In the future they plan on holding various educational events at the farm including bouquet making and learning about the importance of pollinators. This family has a deep connection to the land, and it is evident how thoroughly they care from the time and effort they put into it along with their dedication to its preservation for future generations.

To learn more about the farm visit MaggiesFarmGettysburg.com.