About Us
In the beginning:
From the beginning we have had the desire to use sustainable, organic growing practices. It took several years to learn our micro climate in WNC and master the tools necessary for gardening success. With a faith in God and love for family we set out to restore a connection with the land.
We have learned growing techniques from local farmers including organic expert Pat Battle of Living Web Farms and we annually attend the Spring Organic Growers School at UNCA Asheville. We are currently using a practice model using minimal sprays with low till methods. On occasion, we do use Organic fungicide and other organic sprays depending on the severity of the bug situation. We have learned that the use of greenhouses and plasticulture provide protection from extreme weather conditions, increase disease resistance, lower pest problems and increase productivity.
Most of the pest control is done by hand. We consistently rotate food crops and cover crops. This practice attracts many beneficial insects that dramatically decrease the population of destructive insects.
Growing through the year:
We believe in keeping the natural balance as found in nature, using farming practices that are in a harmonious relationship with nature, including mixing the growing areas with a healthy diversity and growing seasonally is one approach to this ideal.
We value food that is locally grown using healthy sustainable practices. Food grown from your back yard using proper organic techniques will taste dramatically better, be healthier (High Brix) and bring a great sense of joy. The physical and mental benefits of gardening are well documented.
Our goal is to reach a high output of production using low outside inputs while incorporating the sustainable organic farming model.
We use one small flock of Chickens (8 hens and 1 rooster) to till the ground, eat the bugs and fertilize the soil.
We cycle multiple Cover Crops during the early summer: Buckwheat, Heritage Wheat, Purple Tansy, Crimson Clover, Borage, Daikon Radish, Sunflower and Calendula to name a few. Fall cover crops include: Heritage Wheat, Rye and Hairy vetch.
Refining the procedure:
We have divided our garden growing area into 4 equal plots of land; we plant on one plot, throughout all 3 growing seasons and rest in winter. The remaining three plots utilize cover crops and chickens. The next year we rotate to another garden plot. This method results in the need to till the soil on any given plot once every 4 years. This is the secret of our low till methods.
This idea of rest is an integral part of our faith, we are Sabbath Keepers. This time is a special time between God and his people it is a sign between Him and us. We serve the LORD who created the earth in six days and rested on the 7th day. This is the day of His choosing that is accompanied by His blessing.
The remaining three plots are treated as paddocks for the chickens and they move through each paddock every 6 weeks till they finish the last plot at the end of the growing season. At the end of the 6th week an appropriate group of cover crops are selected for that area and planted. Upon completion of the last paddock at week 18 the chickens are moved to an overwinter area and do not revisit the 3 paddocks till the next spring when the cycling starts all over again through the growing season. Everything is done in a natural and conscientious manner seeking to use the natural rhythms of life to encourage a healthy growing environment.
Our vision is to achieve a soil fertility that is incredibly productive and full of life and microbiology. As you can see we use many techniques to achieve this. We advise yearly soil sample testing and microscopy to view the quality and quantity of life in the soil. The soil that lives and is teaming with life is going to produce the best and healthiest food that resists disease and encourages vitality.
Gratitude to our Creator:
Compost and compost tea is used twice a month during the growing season. This dramatically increases the life in the soil. The soil that lives encourages a synergistic affect between the plants, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, earthworms and other life forms to produce a robustness that encourage a healthy balance and wellbeing of ecosystems.
We are thankful to our creator for providing so abundantly for us all things that are necessary to our happiness. The richness of the gardening environment that bring so much joy and the abundance of blessing that it brings, we wish to share with others.
