Crop rotation
Pumpkins, corn, and alfalfa are rotated so the same crop does not make the same demands on a field year after year.
Keeping Glencoe Beautiful
Protected Forever
A 250 year old working farm, cared for with the next 250 years in mind.
Read our stewardship story161acres protected
2007easement established
12.27wild acres
250+years of family farming
A choice that outlives us
Why we chose preservation
As development spread through the Inwood area, our family wanted to ensure that Glencoe would always remain farmland.
On August 17, 2007, a permanent conservation easement was placed on 161 acres of Glencoe Farm. The easement is held by the Berkeley County Farmland Protection Board and protects every part of the farm except the existing visitor parking area.
The land is still privately owned and actively farmed, but its future no longer depends on the next development proposal. Glencoe can remain agricultural, open, and rooted in its history for generations to come.
Learn about farmland protection in Berkeley CountyCharlie Bill's legacy
One lifetime of stewardship. Four children carrying it forward.
For Charlie “Charlie Bill” McDonald, caring for Glencoe was never simply a job. From the day he was born, the farm was part of his life and purpose.
He made it his life's mission to take care of this place. He did right by the land, and he raised four children who are just as dedicated to protecting it, working it, and sharing it with their community.
How we keep our promise
Caring for the soil
Conservation happens through ordinary decisions made season after season. These are some of the ways we keep Glencoe's working land healthy.
Cover crops
Rye protects fields between primary crops, keeping living roots in the soil during the off-season.
No-till planting
Planting with minimal soil disturbance helps protect soil structure and reduces the risk of erosion.
Soil testing
Regular testing helps us understand what each field needs before we add nutrients or make a planting decision.
Erosion control
We adapt how we use the fields when flooding or runoff shows us that the land needs time and help to recover.
Room to remain wild
The Nature Maze
More than 12 acres are left completely wild, except for the trails that invite visitors into the woods.
The Nature Maze gives animals a place to feed, shelter, and move through the farm. Some are everyday neighbors; others only pass through when we are lucky.
- White-tailed deer
- Gray and red foxes
- Wild turkeys
- Barn owls
- Eastern box turtles
- Opossums
- Raccoons
- Smallmouth bass
- Occasional coyotes
- Occasional black bears
Pollinators at work
A home for bees
A local beekeeper maintains hives in our pollinator areas. The bees find food among the alfalfa and wildflowers while helping those plants flourish.
The harvest continues
What we grow stays part of the farm
Maze corn
Ground and mixed into feed for the farm's animals
Leftover pumpkins
A seasonal treat for the cows and pigs
Protected does not mean closed
The farm is yours to explore
While we're open, Glencoe is more than a place to complete a list of activities. Bring a picnic. Walk the trails. Explore the farm. Sit beside the creek and stay awhile.
Treat it like a park: respect the land and leave no trace.