1690 Farm
The historic 1690 Farm in Owings Maryland straddles the suburbs of Washington D.C., and has been in the Bourne family since the beginnings of colonization in America. Today, father and daughter duo James and Hannah Bourne produce free-range non-GMO poultry, pork, and lamb, products.
Hannah grew up on the farm and observed her father transform the land from growing tobacco to raising animals. Hannah plans to inherit the farm. Meanwhile she continues to learn the tradition and business from her father, while brainstorming her own ideas to innovate around the farm. Their philosophy remains, “The most humane practice in handling the animals in the end provides the best product for our customers.” Thanksgiving season is an opportunity for the Bourne’s to connect their customers to the farm more deeply.
James Bourne and Hannah Bourne round up Turkeys the day before processing at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 23, 2019. In October, customers sign up to receive a fresh Turkey on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. “It's fun because it kind of involves people more in a process that they've never been involved with. And it sounds stupid because literally all I'm asking is for their contact information, their deposit, and you know the details on like how big of a turkey they want. But I'm asking them questions that all of a sudden involves them in the farm, and in some strange way involves the farm in them. Because they're now thinking about the fact that I'm currently feeding their turkeys every single day” says Hannah.
Hannah Bourne rests after unloading her truck and preparing the turkeys for butchering at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 23, 2019.
From left: Brothers Charlie and Robbie Petitt, Colby Ireland, and Sarah Falk at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 24, 2019.
From left: Brothers Charlie and Robbie Petitt, and brothers TJ (Todd Junior) and Colby Ireland at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 24, 2019. “We havn’t killed the biggest one yet, I’m scared of him thats why” jokes Robbie Petitt.
]Hannah Bourne (left) shows Sarah Falk how to pull out the turkey's trachea at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 24, 2019. “I’ll do whatever Hannah tells me to do” says Emily Falk, not pictured.
TJ (Todd Junior) Ireland rests from processing turkeys at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 24, 2019.
Robbie Petitt's gloves after he has finished butchering all of the turkeys at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 24, 2019.
From left: Colby Ireland, James Bourne, and Emily Falk celebrate after finishing processing the turkeys at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 24, 2019. “People used to have what we are going to have tomorrow, a party over preparing food” said James Bourne the day before this image was taken.
From left: Colby Ireland, James Bourne, and Emily Falk celebrate after finishing processing the turkeys at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 24, 2019. “Thanks for sharing all of your animals with me” says Emily to Hannah.
Hannah Bourne cuts her hair in her home in Owings, Md., on Nov. 24, 2019.
Hannah Bourne and James Bourne at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 25, 2019. “Almost every year it's the one event where my dad and I can't stand each other because it's so stressful” says Hannah about the turkey processing weekend.
Hannah Bourne and James Bourne discuss their plan for delivering fresh turkeys to their customers at 1690 Farm in Owings, Md., on Nov. 26, 2019.
Bailey Admas (center) picks up his Turkey from the Bourne's on Nov. 26, 2019. " Why else would you spend 225 dollars for turkeys unless they are unbelievable” says Adams. For the past seven years Adams has purchased the largest Turkey of the year from the Bourne’s, which he smokes and mails a portion back to the farmers.
Hannah Bourne and James Bourne take a break while they wait for more customers to pick up their turkeys on Nov. 26, 2019. “I've had coffee coffee coffee a four day old Danish and coffee coffee coffee” says James Bourne.
Hannah in her home in Owings Md., on Nov 26, 2019.
Hannah Bourne poses for a portrait at 1690 Farm in Owings Md., on Nov 26, 2019.