Looking out over the Shenandoah Valley at sunrise, wearing a Rocky Bottom Acres shirt.

Our story

Forty-three acres in Grottoes, Virginia.

What started with three acres and a plan to build a homestead has grown into 43 acres of working land in the Shenandoah Valley. Today, it's where we live, work, process materials, and help others build something of their own.

The land came first. The trucks came after.

Our ground.
Our equipment.
Our work.

A loader feeding the screener at the Rocky Bottom Acres yard, with a pile of screened material.

Rocky Bottom Acres began in 2020 with three acres and a dream of building a homestead. We wanted to live closer to the land, become more self-sufficient, and build something with our own hands.

As we worked to improve our property, we realized others shared that same vision. They had gardens to grow, driveways to build, and plans for what their land could become. What started as building our own homestead gradually became an opportunity to help others bring their ideas to life.

Before Rocky Bottom Acres, founder Michael Kesner spent his days in information technology, designing websites, developing software, and solving problems in the digital world. Working the land began as an escape from the screens, but soon became a new way to put those same skills to work.

We began processing and screening materials from our own ground, investing in equipment, and even designing and building specialized machinery along the way. What started with three acres and helping a few neighbors has grown into a 43-acre homestead and family-owned business in Grottoes, Virginia.

Today, we supply soil, compost, mulch, gravel, and stone throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Some materials come from our own land, while others are sourced to meet the needs of different projects. We also offer select grading, shed pads, drainage features, and light excavation services.

Our homestead is still growing, with land to improve, animals to care for, and always another project on the horizon. We know what it means to have a vision for your property, and we're proud to help others build theirs.

Our team

Get to know the faces behind the name.

We're a small team of three. We work with our own equipment, get our hands dirty, and take pride in the details that make a project go right. And it should feel that way from the first hello.

  • Michael Kesner, owner of Rocky Bottom Acres.

    Michael Kesner

    Owner / founder

    Michael brings an engineer's approach to working the land. From material processing and equipment to measurements, access, and delivery planning, he believes understanding the whole project is the best way to get the load right.

  • Dalton at the yard, with a skid steer behind him.

    Dalton

    Crew

    On the ground with the load. Careful about the placement, and the work that still has a job after we leave.

  • Brian at the yard, with a loader and dump truck behind him.

    Brian

    Delivery driver

    The one you'll see at your property. Brian takes pride in safe delivery, access, and placement, and makes sure every load gets where it needs to be.

Our approach

What matters here isn't complicated.

  • Listen first

    We start with what you're building, not a product list. The right questions lead to the right materials, the right amount, and fewer surprises.

  • Leave it right

    We think beyond the truck bed. Access, placement, and site conditions all matter. Our goal is to leave the material where it can do the most good, when access and conditions allow.

  • Own the result

    We're accountable for our recommendations, our materials, and our delivery. Getting the load off the truck is only one part of getting the job right.