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Farm Happenings at Broadfork Farm
Farm Happenings for July 8, 2020
July sees us getting the last of the root vegetables out of the ground (carrots, beets, onions) as well as taking great care to keep leafy greens healthy to harvest as much of the summer as we can (lettuces, salad greens, rainbow chard). It is hot, folks! Our harvest tubs get heavier as we haul in1 read more »
Remember Tomatoes are separate from the green boxes!
We never know what the weather has in store for us, and so we often describe farming as Professional Gambling, albeit agrarian style. We are so grateful that the weather so far this season has been favorable. Easy weather alone doesn't make a farm, as soil is the foundation that drives everything e1 read more »
Remember Tomatoes are separate from the green boxes!
*REMEMBER your TOMATOES - in separate paper bags, with names, in white crates. Bright pink sign is on crate saying "LOOK! Collect your Tomatoes!" (This is because refrigerating them compromises texture and flavor, and so we don't refrigerate them with the green boxes.)*
We never know what the weath1 read more »
Farm Happenings for June 27, 2020
**REMEMBER your TOMATOES - in separate paper bags, with names, in white crates. Bright pink sign is on crate saying "LOOK! Collect your Tomatoes!" (This is because refrigerating them compromises texture and flavor, and so we don't refrigerate them with the green boxes.) ****Picture above: 1 read more »
REMEMBER your TOMATOES - separate bags, with names
**REMEMBER your TOMATOES - in separate paper bags, with names, in white crates. Bright pink sign is on crate saying "LOOK! Collect your Tomatoes!" (This is because refrigerating them compromises texture and flavor, and so we don't refrigerate them with the green boxes.)
Also - Not as man1 read more »
Farm Happenings for June 20, 2020
This weekend marks the official end to Spring and the start of Summer. It's an important marker for us as farmers each year. As "real" Summer unfolds, the trifecta of our region's signature combination of heat, humidity, and bugs will tax the plants we are tending. We have prepared them as well as1 read more »
Farm Happenings for June 17, 2020
Since we have quite a few every-other-week members, here is a repeat of last week's update: Tomato harvest has begun, and Summer Squash and Cucumbers are abundantly producing their fruits. (Botanically speaking, if there are seeds inside, it is a fruit - even though we call it a vegetable.) Our har1 read more »
Farm Happenings for June 13, 2020
Tomato harvest has begun, and Summer Squash and Cucumbers are abundantly producing their fruits. (Botanically speaking, if there are seeds inside, it is a fruit - even though we call it a vegetable.) Our harvests get more colorful this time of year as reds, yellows, orange and purples appear as our1 read more »
Farm Happenings for June 10, 2020
Our Tomato harvest has begun, and Summer Squash and Cucumbers are abundantly producing their fruits. (Botanically speaking, if there are seeds inside, it is a fruit, even though we call it a vegetable.) Our harvests get more colorful this time of year as reds, yellows, orange and purples appear as1 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.