There’s a peaceful sense of anticipation as you drive into the long, forest-lined drive that welcomes you to Crone’s Cradle Conserve Foundation.

Don’t be surprised to glimpse a deer or two deep in the woods, which are humming with birdsong and insects. Depending on the season, you might spot a flock of wild turkeys, and it’s not unusual to hear the piercing cry of a hawk riding high above on the wind currents.

When visitors come to this protected piece of wilderness in northeast Marion County, they’re privileged to step onto a parcel of land that feels almost sacred. Crone’s Cradle Conserve is an ecological preserve and education center with the ultimate goal of protecting and respecting the earth. The aim is to make people more aware of and committed to the earth, achieved by exposing them to organic farming, nature-oriented activities, conservation and restoration of the land.

Early Beginnings

The conserve started when Jeri Baldwin and Deborah Ann Light purchased the first 80 acres in 1986. Self-professed “conservation addicts,” the women wasted no time in planting an organic garden the following year.

As surrounding land became available, Baldwin and Light continued to add to the original acreage until the parcel expanded to its current holdings of 756 acres.

They put a great deal of thought into deciding on the unusual name. “Crone” was chosen to honor elder folk who are often ignored, neglected and forgotten; “Cradle” represented a commitment to nurture the earth, its wildlife and people who are in physical, emotional and spiritual need and recovery; and “Conserve” summed up the idea of preserving and protecting the land.

It’s always refreshing to find a business or organization that practices what it preaches, and Crone’s Cradle Conserve certainly does that. Sustainability is the theme behind every endeavor, from the quaint farm store to the meticulously cared for garden beds.

From the earliest days of the conserve, the intention was to do right by the land. One of the first projects, conducted in partnership with a state agency, was wetlands restoration to return over 200 acres to original water flow and wetlands habitat. To date, that project is 85 percent complete.

A second restoration project involved removing planted pines on nearly 400 acres and replanting the area with native Southern Yellow Pine. This endeavor, which is now at 65 percent completion, improves the habitat for the endangered gopher tortoise and dozens of other native wildlife species.

Two large portions of the property are completely set aside as off limits to humans so that the native habitat can regenerate and the wildlife that calls it home can live in peace. Of the entire 756 acres, less than 100 are used for human purposes.

The Conserve, which became a non-profit business in 2010, received recognition as a Florida Stewardship Forest that same year from the Florida Department of Forestry.

Light passed away in 2015 but was able to see many of the dreams she and Baldwin had for their ecological preserve become reality.

Growing In Harmony

The conserve is known for its organic gardening efforts and regularly supplies several area restaurants with produce and herbs.

There are 7 acres of ground row crops and 2 1/2 acres of raised beds, plus a large greenhouse for seedlings. Everything is grown following organic practices, which means no herbicides, pesticides or chemicals are ever used. All-natural fertilizer sources include fish emulsion, cattle manure from a local dairy farm and plentiful worm castings from their own worm beds.

“Red wigglers are great composting worms; they aerate and break down the soil and their castings (in other words, worm poop) are one of the best fertilizers you can use,” explains Christine Newberry, office manager, adding that some customers buy 1,000 worms at a time to put in their own gardens to reap the benefits.

The great variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs grown depends on the season, and the fresh, ripe produce is sold in the farm store, which is open daily from 9am to 3pm, and at the Ocala Downtown Market every Saturday.

On Farmstead Weekends (every Saturday and Sunday), all the veggies are displayed for purchase on the store porch. There’s also free coffee and toast for customers, many of whom are regulars who like to sit for a spell in one of the comfortable rocking chairs.

In addition to produce, the store is stocked with numerous other foodstuffs, including some of the conserve’s popular canned goods, which range from pickled vegetables to wild plum jam. Don’t miss the delectable mini and full-size cheesecakes made with goat cheese from Windmill Acre Farms. The raw honey from D&J Aviary in Umatilla is also a big seller, and there’s even grass-fed beef from Tracy Lee Farms in Hawthorne.

Crafts by local artisans are also available for purchase and include everything from pottery and hand-woven rugs to jewelry and hand-turned wooden bowls.

If you need a bit of inspiration, another way to enjoy the freshest produce—and be introduced to items you might not have tried otherwise—is to sign up for the Farm to Fare subscription basket. Also known as a community sponsored agriculture program (CSA), a subscription runs for 13 weeks each season.

Cost is $25 for the membership fee each season and then $25 per basket each week. (Pay for the entire season up front and you get 10 percent off your weekly basket cost.) Each week your basket contains:

5 vegetables currently in season

1 culinary herb

1/2 dozen eggs

2 recipes using the ingredients in your basket

1 newsletter

Baskets can be picked up at the farm on Wednesdays after 1pm or at the Ocala Public Library on Wednesdays from 2pm to 2:30pm, Saturday at the Ocala Downtown Market or at a to-be-determined location in Gainesville. You can also have your goodies delivered to your home for a $5 delivery fee per week.

Dealing With Mother Nature

The conserve was hit hard when Irma churned her destructive path through the state last September.

“Water from Payne’s Prairie and some surrounding areas came right through our place. Every single one of our raised beds was flooded for six to eight weeks. Our greenhouse manager actually had to canoe out to the greenhouse. It was pretty bad for a while,” says Newberry.

All of the recently planted vegetables were destroyed by the flooding. Fall events were cancelled, and, for weeks, visitors were unable to access the farm store, which was surrounded by water right up to the front steps. Even now, so many months later, Irma’s impact can be seen in some areas of the property that are still wet, but most of the land is returning to its normal state.

“Even with our emphasis on the land as a wildlife refuge and land preserve, we still have several activities here at Crone’s Cradle Conserve that are heavily people oriented,” says Baldwin.

Among the most popular events is the Women’s Sunday Brunch, which is held from 11am to 2pm on the first Sunday of every month. Enjoy a home-cooked brunch made with locally grown ingredients and an inspiring and thoughtful program as you visit with other women. Cost is a $10 donation (or anything you can contribute), and reservations must be made by noon the Friday before to reserve your space.

Twice a year, a Natural Foods Gala takes place, featuring tasty samplings prepared by area chefs using all natural and organic ingredients. Music, farm tours and vendors add to the festival atmosphere of this event.

A visit to Crone’s Cradle Conserve shouldn’t be a one-time occasion. Whether you become a porch-sitting regular at the farm store or attend events, you’ll come away breathing a little deeper and feeling more rested in your soul. And that’s something every one of us needs.

Crone’s Cradle Conserve Foundation

6411 NE 27 PL, Citra

6.4 miles east of Citra on Hwy. 318

(352) 595-3377

cronescradleconserve.org

Or search Crones Cradle Conserve Foundation on Facebook