Friends hope to build upon agriculture roots at Spitfire Farms

CREEDS — Tucked back into the trees at the end of a dirt driveway in Back Bay is a property Danielle Corbett had been keeping her eye on – and heart open to – for years.

She, sister-in-law Joy Losciale, and life-long friend Shelley Brezler call that property along Princess Anne Road by the name Spitfire Farm. 

“It took a lot of faith to get us here,” Corbett said. “I know this is where I am supposed to be and what we are supposed to be doing. There’s just no other way to explain it.” 

This September marks one year in the partnership of Corbett, Losciale, and Brezler. 

Considering herself an eternal optimist, Corbett said they hope to develop the property into a rustic, community and event venue for weddings, fundraisers and youth development activities. 

Corbett came across the 13 acre property, which includes the house, a nine-stall barn and riding ring, a few years ago after coming to visit the former owner. 

“The farm was going up for sale and I knew that at that time I wasn’t going to be able to afford to buy it,” she said. 

A few years passed and Corbett received the news that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. 

“My life went on hold so I could battle and beat cancer, and, just about the time I am done with my cancer treatments, I hear that this beautiful place is up for rent.” 

Corbett spread her arms to survey the property while she spoke.

“I knew then, that a higher power put me here and I took this as a sign of a new beginning for me, for us.”

The partners have completed a number of projects in their short time at Spitfire. Corbett gestured to a cleared area with picnic tables, a fire pit, benches and a trellis.

“What you see here, we did on our own,” she said. “People came out here after the hard winter and started helping us clean up and move materials around.”

One goal the ladies of Spitfire have is to use the land and its resources wisely. 

Projects have included upcycling pallet wood into a chicken coop for their hens and using fallen trees to create benches, stools and arbors.  

Mature trees on the property have their branches open to tire swings and twinkle lights, which created a magical setting for a recent Norfolk Police Department Youth Day Camp program, one of the first events Spitfire Farms hosted. 

 “Each of us has taken responsibility for making this place all that it has become,” Brezler said. “We just pulled ourselves together and made it happen.”

“Joy and our great friend Mary Bodnar are helping to build the community involvement piece we want for Spitfire,” she added. “Being here and being a part of the community and giving back is very important to us.” 

Spitfire Farms hopes to make its mark in the near future as a community and event venue with the focus on helping to provide a location and possible funding for events geared toward children. 

A second event with Norfolk Police Department Crime Prevention Unit’s Youth Day Camp is scheduled for late August. 

Spitfire Farms can be located on Facebook or contacted at (757) 689-1762.