Back to farm profile
Farm Happenings at Broadfork Farm
Farm Happenings for November 20, 2021
THANK YOU to everyone who renewed their Farm Share membership for 2022! We appreciate you and your trust in us as farmers. Leeks, garlic, onions, and flowers are already in the ground growing for you.
While the FarmShare ends for 2022 this weekend, we'll still have vegetables (and bread) avai1 read more »
Farm Happenings for November 17, 2021
THANK YOU to everyone who renewed their Farm Share membership for 2022! We appreciate you and your trust in us as farmers. Leeks, garlic, onions, and flowers are already in the ground growing for you.
We've now had our first freeze of the season - it was 29 degrees here a week ago and 28 degr1 read more »
Farm Happenings for November 13, 2021
THANK YOU to everyone who renewed their Farm Share membership for 2022! We appreciate you and your trust in us as farmers. Leeks, garlic, onions, and flowers are already in the ground growing for you.
We've now had our first freeze of the season - it was 29 degrees here last Friday morning. I1 read more »
Farm Happenings for November 10, 2021
THANK YOU to everyone who renewed their Farm Share membership for 2022! We appreciate you and your trust in us as farmers. Leeks, garlic, onions, and flowers are already growing for you.
We've now had our first freeze of the season - it was 29 degrees here last Friday morning. Interestingly,1 read more »
Farm Happenings for November 6, 2021
We have officially entered our Cold Season. (Though there is also a Really Cold Season here on the farm that = January/February.) During the Cold Season we have to cover a number of our crops with "fabric" to keep off some of the cold - see photo above.
It is extremely interesting to note pat1 read more »
Farm Happenings for November 6, 2021
We have officially entered our Cold Season. (Though there is also a Really Cold Season here on the farm that = January/February.) During the Cold Season we have to cover a number of our crops with "fabric" to keep off some of the cold - see photo above.
It is extremely interesting to note pat1 read more »
Farm Happenings for November 3, 2021
This cold front makes the end of our Farm Share season seem imminent! Crops in our hoophouses (pictured above) are snug and cozy in where it gets warmer, but plants in the fields are experiencing the full autumnal effect as the temps drop. Since it hasn't frosted yet, some of our "summer" crops are1 read more »
About the farm
Owned and operated by Janet Aardema and Dan Gagnon, Broadfork is a small family farm in Chesterfield, VA providing the metro-Richmond area with Certified Naturally Grown vegetables, herbs, and flowers.
We use traditional European methods of biointensive, raised bed production while maximizing soil and plant health for nutrition and sustainability. No synthetic/chemical fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, or fungicide is ever used in any part of the process of growing your food. Everything we sell is grown by us, and we farm full-time, supporting ourselves and our four children through our farm business.
Growing practices at Broadfork utilize only ecological methods: compost, cover crops, organic fertilizer, and minerals are used to feed the soil that feeds our plants. Raised beds are used to prevent soil-compaction, allowing for happier plant roots. We use organic potting soil and fertilizer, as well as amendments like fish emulsion and sea minerals. No chemical fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides are ever used on your food and we are Certified Naturally Grown (which follows the same national standards used for Organic Certification). We are also proud members of the Virginia Association for Biological Farming and Slow Food RVA. Janet and Dan both hold Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology from Davidson and Lafayette Colleges, respectively. Janet holds a Master’s Degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. We both thrive on putting our biology backgrounds to use in a farm setting and share a passion for farm education.
Go to farm profile
We use traditional European methods of biointensive, raised bed production while maximizing soil and plant health for nutrition and sustainability. No synthetic/chemical fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, or fungicide is ever used in any part of the process of growing your food. Everything we sell is grown by us, and we farm full-time, supporting ourselves and our four children through our farm business.
Growing practices at Broadfork utilize only ecological methods: compost, cover crops, organic fertilizer, and minerals are used to feed the soil that feeds our plants. Raised beds are used to prevent soil-compaction, allowing for happier plant roots. We use organic potting soil and fertilizer, as well as amendments like fish emulsion and sea minerals. No chemical fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides are ever used on your food and we are Certified Naturally Grown (which follows the same national standards used for Organic Certification). We are also proud members of the Virginia Association for Biological Farming and Slow Food RVA. Janet and Dan both hold Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology from Davidson and Lafayette Colleges, respectively. Janet holds a Master’s Degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. We both thrive on putting our biology backgrounds to use in a farm setting and share a passion for farm education.