I
t’s hard to take the farm out of a true
country girl. Melissa Aakjar and her
brothers, Lucas and Dylan, grew up
on a 55-acre diversified farm in Dutchess
County, New York. “Our parents raised
poultry and grew 30 acres of vegetables,”
Melissa explains. “They trucked and sold them
at the Union Square Market in New York City
in the 1980s. Unfortunately, we had to sell
the farm in 2003 after property taxes soared.”
The Aakjar family moved north to Pawlet,
Vermont, where they found 100 acres to
create their new homestead. Oak Summit
Farm drapes across the top of Lilly Hill with
majestic views west to Haystack Mountain,
among others. “When we moved here, this
was just forest and fields. No power, no
running water,” Melissa recalls. “My dad,
Fred Aakjar, spent the next few years plan-
ning and building the timber-frame house
and pole barn, with the help of my younger
brothers. Over the next 10 years, they built
every structure on the property: the barn, the
garage, the chicken coop, the rabbitry, and
the beehives. Constructing the homestead
together literally laid the foundation for all
that we’re doing now at Oak Summit Farm.”
Fred Aakjar died unexpectedly on
Lilly Hill in March 2017. Although
devastated, the family members kept each
other strong. “Moving to Vermont was
the best thing that happened to us. My
brothers learned timber framing from our
dad; I’m raising and homeschooling my two
kids (Addison, 9, and Leif, 7) on the farm;
and Mom is right here, lending a hand to
all of us. Dad instilled a solid family work
ethic, and we all pitch in to help one another.”
By Maria Reade
Photos by Celia Kelly & Orah Moore
Oak Summit Farm has evolved into two
family enterprises. Melissa started Pitchfork
Preserves in 2009, producing artisanal
pickled vegetables, jams, sauces, and honey.
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