Elements of our Farm
Land: Elevation 2,600 ft
This patch of ground sits on the edge of the escarpment spanning Floyd and Franklin Counties. Being up here on the Blue Ridge plateau is what makes our farm "Floyd flat", as the realtor told us, and it also makes for a unique micro-climate. Drive to our mailbox, a mere half mile away, and the weather will be different. Spring is longer and comes later and summer doesn't have the same sizzle as down in the valley below. This is evident by the crop availability within the growing season which allows us to represent a slightly different market niche. We can grow lettuce and kale all season long including in the summer! As for the heat-loving crops like tomatoes, we use season extension techniques to keep the plants hotter, drier and bursting with flavor. The farm has five high tunnels (unheated greenhouses) that we rotate tomatoes and other summer crops through each year. We also use the tunnels to extend the season through the winter months providing protection from cold, ice, wind and snow.
This patch of ground sits on the edge of the escarpment spanning Floyd and Franklin Counties. Being up here on the Blue Ridge plateau is what makes our farm "Floyd flat", as the realtor told us, and it also makes for a unique micro-climate. Drive to our mailbox, a mere half mile away, and the weather will be different. Spring is longer and comes later and summer doesn't have the same sizzle as down in the valley below. This is evident by the crop availability within the growing season which allows us to represent a slightly different market niche. We can grow lettuce and kale all season long including in the summer! As for the heat-loving crops like tomatoes, we use season extension techniques to keep the plants hotter, drier and bursting with flavor. The farm has five high tunnels (unheated greenhouses) that we rotate tomatoes and other summer crops through each year. We also use the tunnels to extend the season through the winter months providing protection from cold, ice, wind and snow.
Water: from the ground up
All surface water in Floyd County originates in Floyd county! We irrigate and wash our crops with deep well water and we are thankful to have such a pure source. We use water conservation practices on the farm to ensure that this resource is well-managed and that the quality is not compromised. A consistent supply of water (we aim for one inch per week) keeps plants growing steadily and makes for tasty, tender vegetables. Our drip irrigation system allows us to keep to a schedule of succession plantings to ensure a consistent, diverse supply of vegetables and herbs.
All surface water in Floyd County originates in Floyd county! We irrigate and wash our crops with deep well water and we are thankful to have such a pure source. We use water conservation practices on the farm to ensure that this resource is well-managed and that the quality is not compromised. A consistent supply of water (we aim for one inch per week) keeps plants growing steadily and makes for tasty, tender vegetables. Our drip irrigation system allows us to keep to a schedule of succession plantings to ensure a consistent, diverse supply of vegetables and herbs.