Outside the Lines Original: Indian Village Harvest Farm
Community is what drives William and Rebecca Cook and fuels their passion for growing their corner Indian Village. Rebecca comes from a family of farmers, including her father and grandfather. William joined in and after working with Rebecca’s family on their farm, the couple decided to start a farm of their own. They started with a small peach farm.
Truck farming is what they call it. We grow our peaches, pick them, and then sell them on the side of the road somewhere. We did that for a very long time, and the public kept requesting us to do something here locally.William Cook
They started with a little stand to process and sell their peaches right here in Calhoun. Then as customers requested other produce options, the Cooks gladly obliged. As business grew, families visited the stand and the kids were looking for more entertainment. They built a playground, including an old firetruck. They intended for the truck to be a photo prop in the field.
“That's where the tow truck dropped it off and it’s never moved.” William said. “The kids kept playing on it while parents were buying peaches.”
They added a slide and then more playground equipment. One very busy day, the playground was a little too crowded and the Cooks looked for something else for the kids to do. William had hay on the trailer that was already hooked up to the tractor and decided to offer a hayride around the farm. Hayrides now include a stop at a little garden on the far side of the orchard where kids are offered seeds to plant while learning about how food is grown.
The farm has grown to over 30 acres. And the stand has grown as well. Visitors can purchase all types of produce from the Cooks and neighboring farms and small farmers as well. They also serve ice cream of all flavors using their own produce like strawberry, peach, pumpkin, sweet potato, honey, and green apple cinnamon.
A farm for all seasons, the Cooks focus on strawberries in the spring, peaches in the summer, and pumpkins in the fall.
Rebecca is partial to strawberry season.
We let the kids pick their own berries, and you'll see some of them eating them, even out of the field. Their face is all red from the strawberries, and you know they had a great time.Rebecca Cook
The Cooks still take their peaches out on the road to 13 different locations including Lafayette, Minden, and Arkansas. And that’s why William would call peach season his favorite. Between the farm location and their stands, he interacts with so many different people, cultures, and communities and he enjoys that each and every year.
Fall brings in the pumpkins and the fall festivals and activities. Visitors can enjoy the petting zoo, seasonal ice cream, and stroll through the pumpkins to find just the right one.
There’s a pumpkin for every budget, and a pumpkin for everyone.William Cook
To round out the seasons, the Cooks are planning to add some Christmas magic to their corner by selling Christmas trees during the holiday season. They’ll add a few winter crops and some Christmas themed ice cream flavors as well.
What started as a small farm in the Indian Village community of Calhoun, LA has grown into a family tradition for many, a welcoming place to experience a sense of community, and a great place to stock up on delicious, fresh produce.
