At the heart of Durham County, North Carolina, nestled on 4.2 acres, a powerful story of healing and community is taking root. Jireh Family Farms isn’t just a place that raises livestock – it’s a beacon of purpose, perseverance, and faith, born out of a family mission to bring a healthier future to their community. With guidance from NC Farm School, their vision has grown into a thriving farm rooted in strategy, sustainability, and service. Keep reading to hear the inspiring story behind Jireh Family Farms; where faith and food come together to serve something greater.

Jireh Family Farms
🕙 Open Friday–Sunday | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 1310 N Mineral Springs Rd. Durham, NC 27703

📍 Visit them monthly at Grace Lutheran Church Farmers Market (2nd Saturday)

🌾 Follow and support their journey—because when a farm feeds a community, it grows more than just food.

NC Farm School

📬 Subscribe to the NC Farm School Newsletter to stay updated on farmer stories, opportunities, and events: Subscribe Here

🌐 Visit the website to learn more: https://ncfarmschool.ces.ncsu.edu

📱 Follow along on social media to meet more farmers making a difference across North Carolina.

From Crisis to Calling

For Valerie and Immanuel Jarvis, the journey into farming wasn’t conventional. It was personal. When Valerie’s brother was diagnosed with colon cancer, he began to educate her about the deep links between our food and our health. That moment planted a seed.

“I went to my first farmers market 15 years ago,” Valerie recalls. “I could find fruits and vegetables, but I couldn’t find any meat. So I said to myself—our community has a problem.” And just like that, the Jarvis family answered the call. They purchased land and started raising livestock: pigs, chickens, goats, and, through a partnership with another farm, cows – so that their neighbors could access clean, locally raised meat.

Today, Jireh Family Farms offers high-quality beef, pork, chicken, goat, and eggs through their on-farm market every Friday through Sunday, from 10 to 6. They even collaborate with another farmer to offer duck eggs. But this farm is more than just a market – it’s a mission in motion.

Where NC Farm School Grows Dreams

But starting a farm isn’t easy – especially when you’re building it from scratch with a vision larger than the land it sits on. That’s where NC Farm School came in. Though Valerie and Immanuel were already farming when they joined the program, NC Farm School helped them take their business to the next level. “It made us think differently,” Valerie says. “We started planning better, evaluating each year what’s working, what’s not.” One year, they realized too late they hadn’t ordered turkeys in time. “We had to just accept it and move forward. That mindset shift came from what we learned at NC Farm School.”

Perhaps one of the most impactful takeaways from the program, Valerie says, was the value of connection. “Networking and partnering with other farms, learning from others—that’s been huge.” It’s a lesson that’s shaped not only how they grow their business, but how they serve others.

The day-to-day life on the farm is a mix of hard work and heart. Morning chores include feeding the animals—many of whom are on the farm’s main property, while others are kept just down the road. On weekends, they open their store and welcome customers, often answering questions, sharing stories, and celebrating community. And when they’re not farming, they’re still serving. Valerie, still passionate about health, sits on hospital and state boards, bridging her medical background with the healing power of food.

In 2020, when COVID shut down summer camps across the state, Valerie and Immanuel once again stepped up. “I saw on the news that Parks and Rec canceled everything,” she recalls. “But I was a nurse—I knew how to keep kids safe outdoors.” So, with just three weeks of preparation, they launched their own farm summer camp. Now five years in, it’s become a beloved community program that teaches kids about farming, nature, and wellness.

Growth hasn’t come without its challenges. One of the biggest hurdles has been finding the resources to do more. “The first few years were hard,” Valerie admits. “Grant writing has a learning curve.” But with persistence and help from programs like their local Extension office and the MSC Cargill Black Farmer Equity Program, they’ve scaled from a few hundred pounds of meat to producing over 7,000–10,000 pounds each month.

When asked what advice she’d give to someone just starting out, Valerie doesn’t hesitate. “You don’t have to know it all before you start. Just get started.” Immanuel adds his favorite quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

Jireh Family Farms is a testament to what can happen when you answer a calling. With deep roots in faith and family, and the support of programs like NC Farm School, the Jarvis family has built something extraordinary – something their entire community can taste, see, and believe in.

So if you find yourself near Durham on a weekend, take a drive out to Jireh Family Farms. Shake the hands that raised the animals. Hear the story behind the food. And take home a little piece of something bigger than a meal – hope.

Jireh Family Farms
🕙 Open Friday–Sunday | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 1310 N Mineral Springs Rd. Durham, NC 27703

📍 Visit them monthly at Grace Lutheran Church Farmers Market (2nd Saturday)

🌾 Follow and support their journey—because when a farm feeds a community, it grows more than just food

NC Farm School

📬 Subscribe to the NC Farm School Newsletter to stay updated on farmer stories, opportunities, and events: Subscribe Here

🌐 Visit the website to learn more: https://ncfarmschool.ces.ncsu.edu

📱 Follow along on social media to meet more farmers making a difference across North Carolina.