Julie Muth knew something needed to change. After a decade of hour-long commutes and staring at a computer screen as an interior designer, she was tired of working for corporate America. She wanted more—something with a purpose.

She felt drawn towards farming and producing clean food for her neighbors in Harrison County, Kentucky. The area feels like a food desert because of a lack of organic options available in grocery stores. But now, thanks to Julie’s vision and purpose, there’s an oasis known as  Hollow Oak Farm.

Partnering with Market Wagon has allowed Hollow Oak Farm’s naturally-grown products to be accessible to those most in need in and outside of their rural community for a fair price. 

Julie and her husband Jeremiah initially bought 122 acres as a place for hunting, fishing and other outdoor fun on the weekends. But, as they started changing their own diet and learned more about the fragility of the food system, Julie realized the land offered much more.

“We started this farm for me and my husband,” Julie said. “We wanted to raise our own food and to know where it is coming from.”

With Jeremiah’s encouragement, Julie started dabbling with farming vegetables. But that quickly expanding into raising cattle and poultry. All cattle are born, raised and finished on the farm and process locally.

Julie even offers delicious maple syrup from the trees at Hollow Oak (although because of state regulations, it can only be sold in Kentucky).

Market Wagon has helped Julie develop a customer base far beyond her small community, especially helping her connect to people in larger communities where it would otherwise be too far to drive.

Julie has also used Market Wagon’s online platform to create a revenue stream during the winter months when traditional farmers markets are closed. Instead of bringing in all her income during the warmest 6 months, it’s now possible to make money 52 weeks a year.

Because clean eating is a core value for the Muths, Julie is thrilled to share Hollow Oak’s pasture-raised poultry and grass-fed beef to the community for those who don’t have the ability to grow similar products for themselves. All produce is grown using organic processes, free from all synthetic herbicides.

Hollow Oak Farm is available in both the Lexington and Southwest Ohio markets. She recommends customers taste the difference with ground beef as well as the 1/3rd lb. beef patties. While spring is on the way, chuck roasts have also been a very popular item during the winter months.

And speaking of spring, Julie’s selections will greatly expand in late May when she’s able to harvest her first vegetables. At that time, look for all sorts of naturally-grown offerings to help your clean eating habits including tomatoes, eggplant, green peppers, potatoes and leafy greens like chard, kale and salad mixes.

​