Production Methods
We grow all produce in our CSA packages on one acre which is divided into three large plots. All production is done using a permanent bed system. Permanent beds allow us to have quick crop successions with minimal labor, and since the soil is not tilled each season, we're able to sequester all the carbon generated by decomposing plant residues, and our weed pressure is reduced. We care for the soil, the plants, and the local environment. We've done extensive research far and wide on available plant cultivars, and each year we've improved the plant varieties in nearly every category of what we grow, from broccoli to lettuce to tomatoes. These varieties should give us more adaptable plants with better pest and disease resistance. All field crops are grown in soil with over 5% organic matter, and all transplants and hydroponically produced crops are grown in soilless mixes with high organic matter. By growing transplants continuously throughout the year we are able to cultivate a diversity of crops in each season. By growing crops in small, tightly spaced plots from transplants we are able to produce quick succession crops, and our high crop diversity reduces potential pest problems. When pest problems do arise we use biologicals such as neem oil and beneficial bacteria rather than synthetic sprays. Our passion is fresh food and we are delighted to be working towards building a sustainable production system which provides fresh food to our local community.
Package Contents
Our CSA package is structured to emphasize high quality, a high diversity of produce, and reasonable quantities. A common challenge for many CSA subscribers is finding the proper place in a dish for a vegetable in which they are unfamiliar. For this reason we have carefully selected weekly recipes which accompany the CSA package, and which use many of the vegetables included that week’s delivery. Most weekly recipes include anywhere from 3-5 of the items in that week’s delivery, and the recipes focus on well-established flavor pairings, removing the challenge of cooking with unique vegetables with which you are unfamiliar. We have carefully constructed our production schedule to include a large diversity of crops so that our CSA members received varied produce throughout the season. See our CSA Crop Breakdown page for more information on our CSA package contents.