Located in the gently rolling hills of northwest Missouri, Of the Earth Farm + Distillery
is proud to offer seasonal produce, hand crafted spirits & locally raised meats. Since 2011,
owners Jim Pierce & Sarah Burnett Pierce, have worked side by side to grow their
passion into a successful business.
is proud to offer seasonal produce, hand crafted spirits & locally raised meats. Since 2011,
owners Jim Pierce & Sarah Burnett Pierce, have worked side by side to grow their
passion into a successful business.
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HOURS
Tasting Room
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 1pm-7pm (April-December)
By Appointment Only (January - March)
Doorstep Deliveries
Fridays 12pm-6pm
City Market
Saturday 8am-3pm (April-December)
Sunday 8am-3pm (May - October)
DOORSTEP DELIVERIES
Stock up on our locally raised pork and meet your essential premium spirit needs with exclusive
Of The Earth Farm + Distillery cocktail kits and individual spirits available to order in our online store.
Home deliveries are on Fridays from 12-6 p.m.
Place your order by Friday at 9AM to be included in the week’s delivery.
The Owners
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The Story
Jim was first introduced to Eau de Vie at a Fruit Growers Conference and this "Water of Life" captivated his attention; he immediately began to immerse himself in the production of fruit brandy. This research lead to an idea, the idea of a new product for Of The Earth - Eau de Vie made from the fruits and herbs grown on our farm & the flagship Apple Brandy was born.
Sarah joined the operation in 2009 and with her strong animal husbandry skills along with her knowledge of direct marketing meat, an expansion was inspired. A Katahdin sheep flock and Berkshire hogs were introduced to increase the farm's sustainability and offer guests the opportunity to purchase locally produced grass-fed meats.
Sarah joined the operation in 2009 and with her strong animal husbandry skills along with her knowledge of direct marketing meat, an expansion was inspired. A Katahdin sheep flock and Berkshire hogs were introduced to increase the farm's sustainability and offer guests the opportunity to purchase locally produced grass-fed meats.
1980's
1990
2008
2010
2012
2013
2015
2016
2018
2020
- The story of Of The Earth Farm + Distillery starts over two decades ago with Patricia Sappington Pierce; then resident of Buckner, Missouri. Patricia began combining her love of herbs and her love of art in the creation of clay garden markers. These were so popular with family and friends that she began selling them at local farmers markets and since both clay and herbs come from the earth she naturally had the perfect name for her enterprise - Of The Earth.
1990
- Jim C. and Patricia Pierce moved to a small acreage north of Rayville, Missouri and built their new home surrounded by herb, vegetable, and flower gardens. Shortly after, their oldest son, Jim, gave them an assortment of heirloom apple trees which sparked an interest in his father that continues today. Over the years the apple tree assortment has transformed into a seven acre orchard that includes 26 varieties of apples, 2 varieties of Asian pears, and 2 varieties of peaches.
2008
- To add value to tree fruit and improve the orchard’s bottom line, Jim attended a fruit growers conference and discovered distilling. Jim and Sarah applied to Missouri Department of Agriculture Small Business Development Authority with a grant proposal to explore adding value to the 2 acres of heirloom standard apples grown in the family orchard.
2010
- Of The Earth Farm + Distillery was born
2012
- With grant funding from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the distillery began laying down barrels of apple brandy in December. Jim bought a Portuguese copper pot-still and began making spirits.
- The Katahdin sheep flock was started in the fall to diversify the operation and utilize the surrounding pasture.
2013
- The very first batch of apple Eau de Vie was released.
- Custom raised Berkshire pork was added to the farm. Heritage hogs were added as a way to manage distillery spent mashes and add value to those spent mashes and helps to diversify the farm’s production. The spent fruit and grain mash are fed as a supplement to the hogs. This provides a sustainable way to dispose of the mash while making for extra, extra happy hogs!
2015
- City Market sales begin - the KC City Market Managers worked with city leadership to provide an exemption for alcohol sales at the City Market. If a vendor raised the ingredients they distilled, they would be allowed to provide samples and bottle sales. OTEFD was invited to be the first and only distillery to participate.
2016
- Jim and Sarah moved the business from the original family orchard 2 miles to a new farm and began planting heirloom apple trees (Blue Pearmain, Stoke Red, Bramley’s Seedling)
2018
- An existing building on the new farm was remodeled to increase the production area and provide a Tasting Room for the public to visit. View "The Distillery" for more information.
2020
- During the coronavirus pandemic, Sarah began offering Tuesday Doorstep Delivery service in the Kansas City area and Jim continues to sell at the City Market on Saturdays and Sundays.
