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. It also makes for a unique micro-climate and very localized weather conditions. 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 passive solar structures to keep the plants hotter, drier and bursting with flavor. The farm has four high tunnels (unheated greenhouses) that we rotate crops through to extend the season at "the shoulders". These tunnels are essential to providing protection from excessive moisture, cold, wind and ice.
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. It also makes for a unique micro-climate and very localized weather conditions. 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 passive solar structures to keep the plants hotter, drier and bursting with flavor. The farm has four high tunnels (unheated greenhouses) that we rotate crops through to extend the season at "the shoulders". These tunnels are essential to providing protection from excessive moisture, cold, wind and ice.
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 keeps us on schedule for succession plantings so we can offer a consistent, diverse supply of vegetables and herbs to our markets. In recent years, we are also learning to manage the increasingly more common times of an over abundance of water. Cultural practices such as ground covers, mulch, cover crops and timing are important tools to the organic farmer.
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 keeps us on schedule for succession plantings so we can offer a consistent, diverse supply of vegetables and herbs to our markets. In recent years, we are also learning to manage the increasingly more common times of an over abundance of water. Cultural practices such as ground covers, mulch, cover crops and timing are important tools to the organic farmer.
Soil: soul of the farm
We are stewards of mountain-top soils; a task we don't take lightly. The types of sandy-loam top soils that comprise our farm are prime agricultural soils for growing food crops. Cultivating a living, healthy soil ecosystem is at the heart of every decision we make on the farm. Without it we cannot grow nutrient-dense, flavorful food. We recall the wisdom of seasoned farmers that remind us that we are farmers of the soil first, building it with cover crops and enhancing its life, and the cash crops are the byproduct of that focus. Each season on the farm bring us closer to a thriving regenerative farming system based on low and no-till practices.
We are stewards of mountain-top soils; a task we don't take lightly. The types of sandy-loam top soils that comprise our farm are prime agricultural soils for growing food crops. Cultivating a living, healthy soil ecosystem is at the heart of every decision we make on the farm. Without it we cannot grow nutrient-dense, flavorful food. We recall the wisdom of seasoned farmers that remind us that we are farmers of the soil first, building it with cover crops and enhancing its life, and the cash crops are the byproduct of that focus. Each season on the farm bring us closer to a thriving regenerative farming system based on low and no-till practices.