Our Story
Philipp was born and raised in Germany where he pursued a degree in electrical engineering. Upon of completion of university, he had the opportunity to work in the US for his German employer. Shortly after arriving in South Carolina, Philipp and Hannah met at a local restaurant that serves the regional beer of Philipp’s hometown. Hannah had just completed her BS with a concentration in animal veterinary science from Clemson University and had moved back to her hometown to decide what the next chapter of life would hold. It was soon clear that Philipp would be written into the pages of the next chapter. Having been properly introduced to hunting, fishing, rodeos, and summers on the lake, Philipp’s plans to return to Germany faded and in 2017 Hannah and Philipp married on top of Sassafras Mountain in the South Carolina mountains. During this time, the two bought a 100 year old fixer upper and renovated it over the course of 2 years. It was during this time that they discovered, together, they made great business partners.
After a couple of years, the Welzel property became full with animals and a garden, and they knew it was time to expand (and the townspeople did not like the rooster). Unsure where the pursuit of more space would lead, the decision was made to sell the house where it all began. Currently, the adventurous pair resides in Waterloo, SC on a 52 acre tract that offers plenty of room to expand and wander. Please join them on their journey to create a home for themselves, as well as establishing an apiary, rabbitry, and goat farm. Who knows, Hannah may even get a horse.
Our Bees
Before we tapped into the majestic world of the honeybee, we were intrigued with the work of Dr. Leo Sharaskin’s effort to cultivate a honeybee that would withstand the pressures they face
today. Particularly, the varroa mite, though a parasite, also hosts various viruses that have been detrimental to honeybee numbers. As new diseases spread out across the world, we are
interested in giving bees the best chance for survival by being self-reliant and resilient in the presence of threats. Bees that rent a space at the Welzel farm, must be able to thrive with minimal human intervention. They are never fed or treated for mites. This is possible as
honeybees develop behaviors that make them better equipped to defend themselves. These behavioral traits are known as Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH), which describes the honeybees
improved grooming practices to remove mites from themselves and housemates. We also utilize a horizontal hive with larger frames known as the Layens design. These hive designs can
withstand Russian winters and are instrumental for keeping bees in extremely secluded locations where only biannual inspections are afforded. Our efforts to remain unintrusive allows the bee to produce the purest products and allows the bees the chance to respond to
the pressures, then carrying their urvivability to the next generation.
Our Rabbits
Currently, we are focused on developing the Silver Fox rabbit. These rabbits are a dual purpose breed, meaning that in addition to meat production, they provide a pelt that is slightly longer than most commercial rabbits. They were developed in America and are considered to be the one of the rarest American breeds; even considered threatened by the American Livestock
Breed Conservancy. In addition to their uniqueness, they are great mothers with pleasant
dispositions. Our rabbits are raised on an organic diet and water free of chemicals. We strive
for healthy, happy rabbits, that are capable of yielding remarkable production characteristics and meet the Standard of Perfection of the ARBA.
Our Chickens
More information coming soon :)
Our Future Goats
Stay turned for an update on the arrival of our newest additions. We will be bringing a small herd of Sawyer Select Spanish Goats to the Ridge. We have chosen the Spanish goat for their resilience and conservatory efforts to preserve the genetics of the early Spanish goats as they have adapted to various climates across America.