Logo of The Farm on Grape Creek, established in 2012, featuring a sheep and emphasizing pasture-raised meat.
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Logo of The Farm on Grape Creek, established in 2012, featuring a sheep and emphasizing pasture-raised meat.

About Us

Our Story

We are Marty and Ainslie Guion, of The Farm on Grape Creek in Cove City, North Carolina. The dream of our little farm began years ago when we lived in Alabama.

It all began with a school field trip. Our youngest child, Meg, went with Marty to a pumpkin farm, and when they came home that evening, neither could wait to talk about the day’s adventures. Our daughter’s excitement was expected, but Marty's, too? Something was not normal here! Marty had fallen in love with the whole farm concept, but I was skeptical. A few weeks later, our daughter Katherine was scheduled to take the same field trip, and I was able to go with her. Long story short, I saw the vision, and from that point on, countless hours were spent joking about our homestead of the future.  

Over time, the jokes turned into serious talk, and we began reading all the books written by Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm in Virginia. Words like sustainability, local food, and homesteading became part of our vocabulary. However, the farm would remain a dream while my husband served in the United States Air Force. When he retired in 2008, my father presented him with Sponge Bob Square Pants gardening tools and several packs of pumpkin seeds with instructions to begin work on the farm we always talked about. A few days later, my dad passed away, and I clung to those seeds for several more years, hoping I would have a garden to plant them in. 

The Lord has a funny way of directing the course of our lives, and instead of a pumpkin farm, He produced a sheep farm! In 2011, Meg, then in high school, worked part-time at a local agritourism farm, tending to a newborn orphan lamb she named Baba. Meg helped bottle-feed the sweet little lamb and fell in love with her. The owners said she could have the lamb at the end of the spring season, and elated, Meg begged us to keep the lamb. Our initial response was a definitive, “No!” Several hundred sheep later, it is obvious who won that debate. From this one little black sheep, the Farm on Grape Creek became a reality.  

Since then, we have added chickens, cattle, and pigs, offering a full array of pasture-raised meat to our local community. What began as a dream, a few seeds, three acres, and a little black lamb has grown into a full-time job for us. We are now stewards of over fifty acres, hundreds of animals, and have added many new concepts to our vocabulary, such as regenerative agriculture, pasture-raised, and food integrity.  

As we have grown, so has our farming community. We have customers who share in the farm’s bounty, several individuals helping on the farm who are like family, and opportunities to teach others via school visits, community events, farm visits, and apprenticeships. We work hard, are incredibly blessed, and love what we do. 

What We Offer
Two women smiling together in a garden setting, with wooden fences and vegetable beds in the background. One woman wears a red sweatshirt and holds a pen, while the other is in overalls and a cap, gesturing with her hand. The scene captures a friendly and welcoming atmosphere in an outdoor farming environment.
Smiling couple posing together in a cozy indoor setting, with the man wearing a gray cap and a blue shirt, and the woman in a black top, both showing affection and happiness.
A person kneeling on a concrete surface, feeding four cats of different colors in a grassy outdoor setting. The scene includes a calico cat, a black and white cat, a solid black cat, and an orange tabby, with lush greenery and trees in the background.
Smiling grandfather holding a happy baby girl outdoors, both wearing casual clothing. The grandfather is in a red shirt, and the baby is dressed in a floral outfit with white shoes. The background features a house and trees under a cloudy sky.
Two farmers shearing a sheep in a sunny outdoor setting, with a red barn in the background and freshly cut wool visible on the ground. The man and woman are engaged in the shearing process, showcasing sustainable farming practices.
Woman sitting on a haystack in a green pasture with grazing sheep, wearing a red jacket and patterned pants, under a clear blue sky.
A mother holds her toddler while watching a herd of cows in a lush green field under a partly cloudy sky, showcasing a serene rural lifestyle.
Smiling woman wearing a dark cap and a maroon sweatshirt stands in front of a menu board featuring various meat options, including sausages and lamb dishes, at a food stall or market.
Woman feeding a black calf with a bottle while sitting on a chair in a grassy area near a wooden fence. The scene captures a moment of interaction between the caregiver and the young animal on a farm.
Two young girls enjoy a sunny day outdoors, riding on a green toy tractor with a yellow wagon in tow. The older girl, wearing a pink cardigan and yellow boots, steers the tractor while the younger girl, dressed in a light pink outfit, sits in the wagon smiling. The background features a house and trees under a partly cloudy sky, highlighting a cheerful family activity.
A happy family of five sits on a park bench surrounded by greenery. The mother, wearing a floral dress, holds one daughter, while another daughter, dressed in matching floral attire with a pink bow, sits beside her. The father, in a blue polo shirt, holds their baby, who also wears a floral outfit. The scene captures a joyful moment of family bonding in a natural setting.