Conestoga is home to a 105-year-old farm that becomes a destination for both avid and novice gardeners each April. While plants are the main draw, visitors enjoy viewing the large herd of sheep that put the Binkley family on the map due to their success on the fair and farm show circuit. There’s also a friendly farm dog named Penny on the greeting committee. Welcome to spring, Lancaster County style. 

This year marks Tudbink’s 20th season as a garden center. “We’re definitely a destination,” says the farm’s owner, Van Binkley, who adds that for many visitors – especially the younger generation – traveling to Tudbink’s often qualifies as their first time visiting Conestoga. Indeed, it’s a different world. Drive from one end of Main Street to the other and it’s like a trip back in time. “It’s kind of like the land that time forgot,” he says. 

The observation is not meant to be negative. Taking the New Danville Pike into  Conestoga makes for a nice change of pace on a spring afternoon – you automatically slow down and get lost in the scenery. When you reach the western edge of town, you spy the Susquehanna River in the distance. One must literally follow a winding road over the hills and through the woods to reach the valley in which the farm sits. 

Van points out that Conestoga wasn’t always the sleepy town it is now. “Conestoga was once a center of commerce and industry,” he says. However, it didn’t have the best of luck going for it. A dynamite factory blew up, a match factory burned down and an ice house was destroyed by flood waters. “Building the Safe Harbor Dam was huge for this area,” Van says of the project that began on April 1, 1930, and finished on September 29, 1931. He adds that workers contributed to the local economy by renting rooms from area homeowners. Each morning, the roads leading to the construction site would be filled with workers walking to the dam. “We have a phenomenal historical society down here,” he says of the nearby Conestoga Area Historical Society that gathers and relays the history of the Penn Manor area. Like Tudbink’s, it also reopens this month.

For more things to do in Conestoga, click here!

Farming to Flowers  

The Binkleys’ history in the area began in 1915, when Van’s grandparents, Ira and Minnie Duke, purchased four acres of land for $1,500. “I think they overpaid,” Van says. 

Ira was a jack of all trades, as he was a farmer, a mason and a builder. Minnie, unfortunately, died early in life. “My mother was only 10 at the time,” he says of Helen Duke. “She took over the role as the woman of the house.” 

Helen, or “Tud” as she was called, met Donald Binkley during World War II. After their marriage, they settled on the farm. Van credits his father for introducing sheep to the farm in 1963. “He got tired of cutting the grass on the hillsides with a scythe and bought some sheep to do the job,” he says. He credits “Tud” for the family’s interest in growing plants, as she was an avid gardener. 

Van and his wife, Beth, left their corporate jobs in the late 1980s in order to become more involved with the 76-acre farm. The family grew with the birth of Kelsey in 1990 and their son, Nathanael, who arrived a few years later. 

The Binkleys began their farming venture with a vegetable business, specializing in trellis tomatoes. They later added seedless watermelons to the menu. “We did everything wrong,” Van admits. They persevered and became successful growers, with  the Leola Produce Auction becoming their major client. 

In 2000, a hail storm nearly wiped out the operation. Things were so bleak that the Binkleys had to lay off their help – primarily area teens – as they could no longer afford to pay them. Fortunately, quite a few of the youngsters who were invested in learning about farming stayed on. “Over the last 20 years, I’d estimate that about 300 kids have worked here,” says Van. 

In the aftermath of the hail storm, the family began experimenting with growing flowering plants. Again, their main customer was the Leola Produce Auction. The operation grew to include seven greenhouses and several pergolas. 

In 2001, Beth suggested they open a garden center on a short-term basis. Van agreed to fill one of the greenhouses with gardening plants and see what would happen over the course of five Saturdays. In need of a name, the Binkleys honored Van’s mother and father by calling the operation Tudbink’s. 

“On that first Saturday, I was up at Penn State and called home in the afternoon to see how things were going,” Van recalls. To his surprise, he was told that business had been steady all day and nearly 20% of the production area had been sold. Not bad for a place that’s in the middle of nowhere. The next year, they added Friday hours. Today, they are open Monday-Saturday from April to early July. 

The Sheep’s in the Meadow …

Tudbink’s is also known for sheep. They entered their first show in Indiana in 1999. Kelsey was intrigued by the sheep from an early age and since she was homeschooled, she was able to spend a lot of time with them, even helping with lambing and assisting ewes who were having difficulty delivering their offspring. Her parents saw working with the sheep as a part of their daughter’s education. She became such an astute student of sheep that she soon developed the ability to predict which lambs would do well on the show circuit. 

Kelsey began competing on the fair/show circuit at the age of 9 and continued until she was 19. Success on the local circuit enabled Kelsey to spread her wings and compete all over the country. 

Today, she remains involved by serving as a leader for the 4-H Woolies Club and as a private coach for youthful competitors. “A lot goes into raising sheep and competing,” she notes. “The successful kids put their hearts and souls into it. For them, it’s their sport.” 

Tudbink’s Club Lamb website provides testament to the success of their breeding efforts – 2018 and 2019 were banner years, as sheep from Tudbink’s were grand champions, as well as winners in other classes, in both local and regional competitions. 

Kelsey has hopes that her 3-year-old daughter, Avonlea, will follow in her footsteps. “She really likes the sheep and isn’t fearful of them,” Kelsey says. Time will tell. 

The Binkleys have evolved from raising Dorset and other breeds to exclusively concentrating on Crossbred sheep. “I sometimes think about getting out of raising sheep, but once it’s in your blood, it’s hard to let go,” Van says. While lambing season is associated with spring, at Tudbink’s it falls between late January and early March. “We have some really busy nights,” Van says of lambing season. A sale of lambs is held in late March. 

Speaking from a mom’s perspective, Kelsey enjoys seeing families visit the farm. “I think people come as much for the sheep as they do the flowers,” she says. “So often, I’ll see moms posing their kids for pictures with the sheep in the background. It’s nice.” 

One Thing Leads to Another 

When Kelsey finished her homeschool curriculum, she ventured off the farm to begin life as an adult. “I tried a variety of things including working as a hair stylist,” she says. Nonetheless, she found her true calling on the farm. “I just enjoy being outdoors and working with the sheep and flowers,” she says. The farm was also the site of her wedding to Andrew Skworch on June 20, 2015. “It was very laid back,” she notes. The two will welcome their second child this month. 

Through the garden center, Kelsey discovered a talent for creating unique container gardens that combine succulents and other plants with finds that she “picks” from barns, junk piles and shops such as Bootleg Antiques in Columbia. Chicken feeders, boxes, troughs, ladles, baskets and even vintage toy cars provide her with the makings of her signature container gardens. “I’ve never met a container I didn’t like,” she states. “And, I love working with succulents.” She also leads workshops through which guests make their own container gardens. 

Over the last 20 years, Tudbink’s roots have extended beyond being a garden center. When the Marriott on Penn Square and Lancaster County Convention Center celebrated their grand opening, Tudbink’s was asked to beautify the outdoor areas. City officials took note of the displays and the positive feedback they generated and approached Van about making it a full-time effort. “That was 11 years ago,” he says. “Now, we take care of the entire downtown area.” 

The huge containers, which are owned by the city, are filled with dazzling displays of color and texture throughout the year. “We change them out seasonally,” he says. “And, we take care of everything – pest control, water, vandalism and replacing plants.” Crew members have become accustomed to fielding positive feedback. “I remember one person who was staying at the hotel approached me and said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this,’” Van recalls. “I figure we gotta bring it – after all, Lancaster is regarded as the ‘Garden Spot of America.’” 

Van is also noticing that the owners of individual shops, restaurants and office buildings are joining the movement by adding horticultural touches to the exteriors of their buildings. “It’s encouraging to see that,” he says, likening the results to what one might see in Europe. 

Tudbink’s efforts have extended beyond center city. They now create displays for clients as diverse as the Water Street Mission, Tanglewood Golf Course and the Bent Creek community. Tudbink’s has also extended its services to landscaping (with urbanscaping being a specialty) and estate care. 

Tudbink’s has also ventured into weddings by creating indoor gardens for ceremonies and receptions. While she has created a few tiaras made of succulents for brides, Kelsey says floral arrangements “are out of our wheelhouse” and instead recommends Christine Graham at Pollinate in Strasburg to clients. 

Gardening in a New Millennium 

According to the Binkleys, there is a new generation of potential gardeners aiming to perfect their knowledge of plants. “You know, a love for gardening seems to have skipped a generation,” Van says of the disconnect that seemingly occurred between the Baby Boom and Gen X generations. Whether you blame it on career drive, children’s schedules or the age of technology, the Millennials ultimately became the “indoor” generation. They seem to have lost that organic connection to nature and are ready – but nervous – about taking the plunge. “Latin names scare them,” Beth attests. 

The Binkleys have also noticed that despite their lack of exposure and experience, the younger generation wants to achieve perfection out of the gate. “Part of the process is experimenting and going through trial and error,” Van theorizes. “They seem to want to bypass that. So, as a result, we find ourselves providing a lot of counseling and hand-holding.” 

Fortunately, the Binkleys have modern-day horticulture on their side. “New varieties of plants are easier to grow,” he says. And, since a majority of the plants are grown on the farm and are “weather tested,” survival rates are very high. Some plants, like succulents and air plants – two Millennial favorites – are nearly maintenance-free. Tudbink’s famous hanging baskets are designed using “recipes” of plants that require similar light and moisture levels, thus making them almost foolproof whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner. 

Despite their inexperience, the Millennials are embracing gardening and are even adding their personal touch to outdoor spaces – they love houseplants and are moving them outdoors during warm-weather months. As a result, garden centers such as Tudbink’s are adding a wide selection of tropical plants to their inventory. “We grow 85% of our product and bring in tropicals,” Van says.  

Tudbink’s is located at 610 Stone Hill Road in Conestoga. The garden center will open for the season on Friday, April 10, and remain open until early July. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Call 717-872-2126 or visit tudbinks.com for more information. For information about Tudbinks Club Lambs, visit tudbinksclublambs.com. 

The above motto that appears on signage, pillows, glassware and other home décor items perfectly sums up what homeowners discovered during the Victorian era and what their modern-day counterparts are rediscovering – a porch is the perfect place to relax and sip a glass of lemonade – or wine, in the case of Karen and Mark Haldeman – on a summer evening.

Porches are back in vogue. During a marathon viewing of HGTV’s Home Town, which is based in Laurel, Mississippi, it was evident that porches are the deal makers for clients working with home renovators Ben and Erin Napier. In towns across the South – notably historic places such as Charleston, Savannah and New Orleans – porch parties have reentered the lexicon of entertaining. Because of the manner in which they are decorated, porch tours have become a new fundraising tool for nonprofit organizations. Locally, Mount Gretna’s famous porches are a prime attraction for the annual August home tour that benefits Music at Gretna. In Lititz, the annual Artisan’s Porchwalk transforms porches into mini-sized art galleries each October. At the other end of the spectrum – new construction – the popularity of farmhouse design is helping to revive interest in porches. 

Porches are synonymous with the Victorian era. With the exception of the South, few homes in America had porches prior to the 1850s. However, during the second half of the 19th century, an interest in landscaping, an awareness of the healthy benefits of fresh air and the increasing availability of mass-produced millwork prompted an interest in what was called a “rocking-chair porch.” 

The porch, whose heyday extended into the 1920s, served many purposes. It was a place to escape summer’s stifling heat. It was a place to relax with family and friends. A porch fostered a sense of being a part of a neighborhood. It became a place to entertain. It provided curb appeal. A porch was a place to dabble with the newest Victorian obsession – houseplants. With that said, a porch verifies that the more things change, the more they stay the same. 

A Victorian in Landisville

The Haldemans’ home, which sits along Main Street in Landisville and dates to 1875, is one of the town’s best-known properties. While the house has been impeccably restored and the grounds artfully landscaped, your eye is nonetheless drawn to the porch that spans the front of the house and is decorated to reflect the seasons and holidays that mark the calendar. 

Karen, who oversees Galebach’s Floor Finishing, credits her previous career – 17 years as a floral designer with Royer’s Flowers & Gifts – for her creativity. “I’m always looking for things to put on the porch,” she says. 

In the summer, the scene is set with patriotic bunting, a large American flag, wicker furniture, airy curtains, birdcages, containers of ferns and a lace-trimmed hammock. In the fall, the porch glows with pumpkins and Halloween fare. Last year, one of the trees in the front yard was hung with large, bronze-hued ornaments. As soon as Thanksgiving arrives, trees and an antique sleigh transform the porch into a holiday vignette.     

The property looked far different when Karen and her late husband, John Galebach, purchased it in 1996. “It was condemned,” she explains. “We bought it from the bank.” A tour of the house revealed why it had fallen into a state of disrepair – animals and birds were living inside the house, graffiti covered the walls, while bottles and cans carpeted the floors (it had become a local “party house”). The roof was greatly compromised, which allowed the elements to penetrate the interior of the house. “We found a kiddie pool in the rafters that was being used to catch the water,” Karen says. Outdoors, trees and shrubbery were so overgrown that they were encroaching on the house.  

Despite the horror story the house had become, Karen had fond memories of it. “I grew up in Landisville,” she explains. “One of my friends lived in the house, so I played there a lot. I always loved it.”  

The house has an interesting story attached to it, as well. Known locally as “The Spite House,” it was built by John Hiestand after he retired from farming at the age of 70. Unfortunately, Mr. Hiestand passed away before it could be finished. 

A man named Simon Hershey – Karen believes he was related to Milton Hershey – then bought the house with the intention of finishing it and making it a home for himself and the woman he was courting. 

To Hershey’s dismay, she turned down his marriage proposal. A la The Notebook, Hershey vowed to create the most elaborate house in the area. He also went on to marry another woman. “Hence, The Spite House,” Karen says. 

Later, ownership of the house was passed to the Church of God of Landisville. “The plan was for it to become a retirement home for missionaries,” she says, adding the plan never materialized. “There’s a lot of history here,” she remarks.

Before they could even begin to restore the house, Karen and John had to let it dry out. “That took a year. Everything was wet from top to bottom,” she notes. Once work could commence, she recalls having “to beg our contractor friends to work on the house.” 

The porch had its own issues. “It was rotted,” she says. “Everything had to be replaced. Part of the problem is it gets all the weather. In fact, we had to replace it again last year.”  

Once it was completed, the porch took on a life of its own. “We do use it,” Karen remarks, noting that it’s perfect for everything from entertaining to just relaxing with a glass of wine at the end of the day. It’s become a favorite Trick-or-Treat stop at Halloween as well as a much-utilized backdrop for holiday portraits because of the large antique sleigh that decorates the porch. “People think we’re a B&B and will just walk up and check out the porch,” Karen adds.  

Sadly, John Galebach died shortly after the renovation work was completed. Karen and Mark, who heads Haldeman Mechanical, have been married since 2001. Together, they’ve worked on several projects, including restoration work following a fire in 2005 and designing a wine cellar. 

They also transformed the side yard into a spacious outdoor-living area. Removing trees and a grape arbor opened up the area and helped to unite the new patio with the house’s back porch and balcony. “We’re out there a lot,” Karen says of the space that’s now used for entertaining, relaxing and even watching television. 

Now that they are completely finished – “You can’t say that about an old house very often,” Karen notes – the Haldemans are contemplating downsizing. They’ve signed on the dotted line for a residence in Pleasant View Communities’ The Lofts at Lititz Springs. This will probably be their last summer at the house. “I’m hoping whoever buys our house will want to keep some of its treasures,” she says. 

While she’ll have to bid farewell to her porch, Karen is excited by the prospect of adding her creative touch to the balcony her new home will have.