Today we’d like to introduce you to Leeza Tierney.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Our story didn’t begin with a plan to start a farm. It began in the stillness of the pandemic, when all the busyness came to a halt. With schools shut down, we wanted a project that would give our kids something hands-on to learn. So, for our daughter’s fourth birthday, we brought home 17 chicks.
None of us had raised chickens before, so we learned alongside each other — brooding, feeding, caring — and discovering the basics of farm life. Somewhere between gathering that first egg and watching our kids take responsibility, something shifted. We realized that we had never been connected to our food or understood how it ended up on our plate.
Seventeen chicks were just the beginning. From there came livestock, bees, gardening, and community — and before we knew it, one small decision had rewritten our story. We never set out to become farmers, but that’s exactly who we became… and we wouldn’t change our story.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think farming is ever a smooth road — and honestly, that’s part of what makes me keep showing up. There are the daily struggles everyone expects: the long days, early mornings, and the fact that there are no days off. Animals depend on you whether you’re sick, injured, or facing extreme weather.
But the harder challenges go beyond the physical. One of the biggest I see is the gap between what food really takes to produce and how people experience it at the grocery store. Prices don’t reflect the time and care that go into raising food in a way that nourishes both people and the land. And when people are disconnected from that process, the value of food gets lost. I’ve had children visit the farm who didn’t realize chicken nuggets come from the same chickens running around in the pasture. That disconnection is why our work isn’t just about raising food, but also about teaching where it comes from and why it matters.
These experiences serve as a reminder of the work left to do. We want to bring dinner to the table in tangible ways. We want people to understand what makes egg yolks orange, why a tomato from a local farm tastes better than one from the grocery store, and how honey shouldn’t just taste sweet — it should carry the flavor of the flowers around you. These are the bigger struggles that remind me what’s at stake: if we lose our family farms, we lose more than a piece of the local food supply — we lose our connection to food itself.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The 75 Oaks is a neighborhood farm with a simple mission: to bring the farm back to the community. We’re known for our drive-thru farm store in Leander, where people can swing by and pick up fresh eggs, honey, bread, pastured meats, produce, raw dairy, pantry staples, and products from other local farms and small producers. It’s convenient, it’s personal, and it connects neighbors directly to their farmers.
At our core, The 75 Oaks is about restoring something many of us have lost: a real relationship with the land and our food. Beyond the farm store, we create experiences that bring that relationship back to life — gardening workshops that put hands in the soil, cooking classes that turn raw ingredients into something nourishing, and opportunities to reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world. These moments aren’t just about learning — they’re about remembering that food connects us and should carry a story.
Brand-wise, we’re most proud of being accessible. We’re not tucked away miles outside of town — we’re right here, close to home. That makes it easy for families to stop by and for neighbors to support local food without changing their routine. We want people to see The 75 Oaks not just as a farm, but as part of the community — a place where food, land, and people come together.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My first piece of advice is don’t romanticize farming. It isn’t scattering sunflower seeds to chickens in a meadow while wearing a sundress. I promise you — it’s not glamorous or perfect. On a good day, it’s dirty overalls and muddy boots. On a bad day, it’s losing an entire crop to a storm or finding your flock decimated by a predator. That’s the reality of farming — the part that doesn’t feel picture-worthy.
My second piece of advice is to start small — and start cheap. Don’t sink all your money and energy into the biggest version of your idea right away. Try something simple, test it, and see if it works. If it does, improve on it and build from there. Each season will teach you something new, and you’ll always see ways to make things better as you go. Growth that lasts usually happens step by step.
My third piece of advice is to be original — or at least be complementary. Communities are stronger when each person brings their own piece to the table. Instead of repeating what already exists, look for the gaps, the needs, or the opportunities that excite you. When each of us adds something unique, the whole community grows stronger and more resilient.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.the75oaks.com
- Instagram: @the75oaks
- Facebook: @the75oaks
- Other: Facebook Group for Drive-Thru Farm Store: https://www.facebook.com/groups/75oaksfarmstore
