Community members sip on Bellinis and mimosas at Windward Farm on Sunday morning. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — After searching for years for a farm with enough space for them to grow their business on, Reed Mayer and Misha Van Mecl stumbled upon Windward Farm in April 2022. Due to the farm having sat on the real estate market for years by that point in time, its selling price had been lowered, which put it within range of the couple’s budget.

The couple’s bid on the farm was accepted in June 2022, after Van Mecl reached out in a personal letter to the Byron family, who owned the property, to share her and her husband’s vision for Windward Farm.

“They really wanted it to go to the right family,” Van Mecl said. “Just knowing who we were and what our vision was — we weren’t coming to develop it or to put other houses on the property — I think put them at ease.”

“When we purchased Windward Farm, it was very important to us that we maintain the fact that we are just stewards and we keep the traditions that have happened here for decades going,” Van Mecl said, mentioning the Byrons have become good friends over the past year.

“It’s interesting to hear all of the stories from people of the different things that used to happen at Windward. Properties like this have an amazing history that come with them!”

Husband-and-wife team Misha Van Mecl and Reed Mayer stand in front of their home at Windward Farm on Sunday morning. Tabitha Johnston

Mayer agreed with her, noting that some old photographs of weddings at the farm are currently on display inside of the farm’s expansive, two-story brick house from the late-1800s.

“It’s really interesting to see the historical context of what the house was,” Mayer said, noting he and his wife originally bonded over their shared interest in farming, prior to the start of their romantic relationship. “Neither of us grew up on farms. It was just one of those things, where we wanted to do something manual, and farming spoke to both of us.”

Before their move to Windward Farm, the couple ran a similar, but smaller, operation at their home, Lost Acre Homestead, in Loudon County, Va. To merge their own past and future together, the couple blended the names of their homestead and farm together, under the name Windward by Lost Acre.

“We wanted to maintain our history in the name of the business, while also embracing the past of Windward,” Van Mecl said.

The couple said they hope to eventually be able to quit their jobs in the information technology sector and work full-time on the farm. To accomplish that goal, they have built a diversified business model that will hopefully prove successful in a few years’ time.

Leesburg, Va. resident John Binks, right, watches Margaret Simpson, of Shepherdstown, fill a bowl with stew catered by Alma Bea at Windward Farm on Sunday morning. Tabitha Johnston

“We really try and do a multifaceted approach to modern day farming. As so many people know, there’s not a lot of money in farming these days, and so we have diversified by doing different types of agritourism events, like goat yoga and private events and the Hunt Brunch,” Van Mecl said on Sunday morning, as the first annual Hunt Brunch was kicking off, in conjunction with the New Market — Middletown Valley Hounds’ longstanding annual Blessing of the Hounds tradition at the farm. “We also are a flower farm and operate as a florist, 365 days of the year, out of the farm shop. We sell our farm products, too, so we sell our own goats milk soaps and lotions. We raise pigs and meat birds, as well.”

The farm also features a “glamping” Airbnb in a tent, for those desiring a glamorous camping experience. Booking this, as well as purchasing tickets for events at the farm, can be done by visiting Windward at Long Acre’s website, https://windward.farm/. Items produced at the farm can be purchased on the farm’s website or by visiting the Windward by Lost Acre Farm Shop.

A table piled high with finger foods catered by Alma Bea runs the length of Windward Farm’s enclosed porch for brunch on Sunday morning. Tabitha Johnston

Community members visit the Windward by Lost Acre Farm Shop, which features a variety of fresh foods and home goods. Tabitha Johnston