In 1910, Spero and Magdalene Bavelas moved into the historic adobe-brick home located on 400 West in Centerville providing produce and milk to the community. Presently, Andrew Bavelas, a grandson of this couple is living in the same adobe house and practicing a variety of self-sustaining farming practices. Since the family has been working a farm here for 115 years, it is one of three Century farms located in Centerville. The farm proudly displays a Century farm sign and a plaque describing the home that was built in 1888. It was originally owned by William Jennings, who was a wealthy business man who dabbled in farming, mining and railroads. Simon Bamberger, another wealthy company man, also owned the farm for four years before selling it to the Bavelas Family. The thick-walled home is filled with antique furniture, books and tools that  tells the story of the inhabitants that have lived there since pioneer times. Now the Bavelas grandchildren, the fifth generation, come to the home to learn and play.

“I get about 12 eggs from the hens in the summer,” said Joanne Bevalas, “and six eggs in the winter.” She rotates out her older chickens who may not lay as well by advertising them on KSL. She also keeps six large rabbits, three bucks and three does and raises a plethora of bunnies for meat and sale. She names her breeding stock who all have distinct personalities and harvests their progeny twice a year. They also raise goats and sheep and sometimes enjoy veal, very young meat that is very “tender.” 

Besides covering the meat/eggs protein group, the farm also boasts a variety of fruit and nut trees, including peach, pear, hazel nut, almond and walnut. They also grow a lot of vegetables on their four acres surrounding the home. Even this late in the year, colorful, huge Abe Lincoln tomatoes, raspberries, peppers, chard, and broccoli could be harvested from their plants. Although they had already harvested buckets of potatoes, the plants were sprouting again with the recent rain suggesting that more potatoes, possibly deeper, were still ready to be dug up. “I suggest that people raise potatoes for the starch,” said Andrew, “because it is a starvation food that will sustain and keep you in hard times.”  

Much of their garden waste is given to the bunnies or chickens. In turn, the waste from the bunnies and chickens is tilled in 18-inches deep to support the plants. They try to avoid chemicals. Joanne pointed out a mating lady bug on one of her plants highlighting her natural-predator approach to pest control. Dragonflies eat mosquitos and lady bugs eat aphids etc. Two beehives on the premises showed activity in the entrances and bees covering the flowers. 

The couple feels it is their calling to help this generation become more connected to the land and animals by sharing their farm with others. They welcome tours to show their amazing collection of plants and historical artifacts. Joanne often shares starts of her plants, eggs and produce. The tour may include a stagecoach, an original pioneer wagon and handcart, a portable “sheep camp” vehicle, a horse walk rigged up to be a swing, among other treasures. The address is 1689 North 400 West in Centerville, Utah.