Fig Hill Farm is a small (19 acre) farm in southern Jefferson County, Kansas, owned by Byron Wiley and Theresa Martin. After a decade and a half of shoe-horn gardening on small city lots, lamenting the lack of sunlight or room to plant more and more different kinds of fruit and nut trees, and several years of driving all the back roads of Jefferson and Leavenworth counties searching for land, the homestead of their dreams practically fell in their laps. Set on a gentle, east-facing slope, with 6 or 7 acres of woods, a pond, 6 or 7 acres of pasture in various stages of weed invasion, several functional outbuildings, and the richest, deepest soil either of them had ever had the pleasure to work with, they were thrilled to finally own a farm. They now had room for a REAL orchard and all the plants they have wanted to have space to grow, and all the projects they wanted to accomplish.
The name “Fig Hill Farm” comes from one of Byron’s great passions–growing figs! Ever since 2004, he has been amassing an incredible collection of fig plants to trial, and it seemed a fitting name.
However, Fig Hill Farm is not just about growing figs, but instead is a multifaceted endeavor. Byron and Theresa are actively working to find the best balance between all of their interests: supporting the wilderness, pasture rejuvenation via sheep and water conservation measures, fruit orcharding and vegetable gardening, the fig growing project, willow growing for basketry, a passive solar & earth heat exchanger greenhouse project, modeling a practical energy envelope, and engaging with their community via folklife and skill building participatory activities. It is ALL important, and makes for a thrilling ride!!!
Fig Hill Farm & the Kansas Figgery 