An Idaho Farmer Story

What started as a personal paradise of gardens, fruit trees, and wandering animals soon grew into something the community couldn’t resist. Twenty five years ago, Linda Swenson and her husband purchased her fantasy farm and set out to create a place where the simple joys of country life—feeding chickens, gathering eggs, tending pumpkin vines, and harvesting fresh fruit—could be part of everyday life.

One year, faced with an overabundance of pumpkins, Linda decided to open her farm to the public. Many early days were spent standing alone in the fields, welcoming curious neighbors. But word spread quickly, and the farm became a beloved destination for its whimsy, charm, and authentic working-farm experience. Today, school groups, families, and adults alike delight in wandering the grounds, picking pumpkins, feeding the animals, and soaking in the nostalgic rhythm of farm life. Each autumn, the barn opens for storytelling sessions with the local storytellers’ group, adding another layer of seasonal magic.

Prairie Home Farm is also a celebration of homegrown flavors. All the fruit, squash, and pumpkins that go into Linda’s pies are grown right on the farm. Her shed has been renovated and transformed into a cozy kitchen, where small-batch pies are crafted with care and available through special order or at the Kootenai Farmers Market. Over time, the farm and pie business flourished enough that Linda could leave her nursing career behind to devote herself fully to her passion.

The charm of Prairie Home Farm lies not just in its produce or pastries, but in the experience it offers: the cluck of chickens, the smell of fresh-baked pies, the thrill of finding the perfect pumpkin. Linda is living her dream, and at Prairie Home Farm, it tastes just as good as it looks.