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Farm Happenings at Broadfork Farm
Farm Happenings for April 1, 2021
Our brains and hearts aren't much focused on farming this week. We're grieving the loss of our friend's daughter, our weekly Saturday farmers' market companion: Lucia Bremer of Liberty Tree Farm was shot and killed by a 14 year old school mate last Friday afternoon. We're angry and full of sorrow a1 read more »
Farm Happenings for March 25, 2021
For our every-other-week members that didn't get to see this last week:
Spring really feels like it's here now! Our new, inexperienced crew has arrived and started last week (see all of us, above!). We run an intensive educational program here on our farm, teaching new folks the science and t1 read more »
Farm Happenings for March 18, 2021
Spring really feels like it's here now! Our new, inexperienced crew has arrived and started this week (see all of us, above!). We run an intensive educational program here on our farm, teaching new folks the science and tasks of our style of farming. It has no begun! Combined with our Crew Leaders,1 read more »
Farm Happenings for March 11, 2021
It's March 9th and we are in the driest spell since last October! What a wet and full-of-rot Winter it's been. (All that moisture killed thousands of Salad and Lettuce plants...) Farmers have to be optimists, and so we're heading on into the next season with hope for a better rot-to-not ratio. :)&n1 read more »
Farm Happenings for March 4, 2021
It's wet and soggy and downright depressing in our fields right now, but the greenhouse is the center of action and optimism! Plus - the extended forecast for the next couple of weeks is DRY and WARM. We have a new spring in our step today because of this. Bring it on, we say! (And then, please, ma1 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.
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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.