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Farm Happenings at Broadfork Farm
Farm Happenings for June 6, 2020
June started off cool here on the farm, but this week has quickly escalated to summer weather. We added irrigations lines to crops that didn't have them yet and reminded our staff (again!) about the importance of hydration and salts. This is how we help both people and plants be as ready as we can1 read more »
Farm Happenings for June 3, 2020
June 1 is starting off cool here on the farm, but this week will bring very summer-like weather. We are getting ourselves and the plants as ready as we can for multiple days with temps at or near 90 degrees. The Broccoli and Cabbages are going into this week quite happy, but we shall see how they f1 read more »
Farm Happenings for May 30, 2020
On the farm each Spring, Memorial Day is a time for us to bring reflection and gratitude for those that have lost their lives in service to our country. However, unlike many professions, we must do this in the context of our farming work day. (Spring on the farm gives us very few days off.) But as1 read more »
Farm Happenings for May 27, 2020
On the farm each Spring, Memorial Day is a time for us to bring reflection and gratitude for those that have lost their lives in service to our country. However, unlike many professions, we must do this in the context of our farming work day. (Spring on the farm gives us very few days off.) But as1 read more »
Farm Happenings for May 23, 2020
Since we have every-other-week members, here is a repeat of some info from last week:Pictured above is an heirloom variety of lettuce that some members have gotten or will get in their shares: the heirloom Amish Speckled Lettuce. The maroon flecks are the natural speckling that this variety feature1 read more »
Farm Happenings for May 20, 2020
Since we have every-other-week members, here is a repeat of some info from last week:Pictured above is an heirloom variety of lettuce that some members have gotten or will get in their shares: the heirloom Amish Speckled Lettuce. The maroon flecks are the natural speckling that this variety feature1 read more »
Farm Happenings for May 16, 2020
Pictured above is an heirloom variety of lettuce that some members have gotten or will get in their shares. The maroon flecks are the natural speckling that this variety features. Many people new to this variety misinterpret the speckling as bad spots, since green lettuce leaves turn brown when the1 read more »
Farm Happenings for May 13, 2020
Pictured above is an heirloom variety of lettuce that some members have gotten or will get in their shares. The maroon flecks are the natural speckling that this variety features. Many people new to this variety misinterpret the speckling as bad spots, since green lettuce leaves turn brown when the1 read more »
Let's Try This Again...Farm Share is rolling!
For some of our every-other-week members, this is the first week of your Farm Share! Please read to the end. (Our apologies for this being the second version of this email you've received today...server failure mid day today sent the first version into a digital abyss.)
- When you arrive at pick up1 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.