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Farm Happenings at Broadfork Farm
The HOT Season... for July 1, 2023
Farm happenings: Our cool, dry spring is over and conditions are now HOT and WET. Vegetable plants don't love these conditions, so a lot of our energy is now focused on trying to mitigate the disease that takes hold in this weather. Interestingly, bugs also love the heat and humidity so bug pressur1 read more »
Farm Happenings for June 28, 2023
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Here is your Bread Share email!
This email is just for Bread Share members so that you can select your loaf variety through this software. You'll get an email like this each week that you have a Bread Share scheduled. Log in below or with this link and see your loaf options for1 read more »
The Start of REAL SUMMER for June 28, 2023
Pictured above: some of the thousands of heads of garlic we're currently bringing in from the field and hanging in our barn to dry. We love garlic!
Farm happenings: Our cool, dry spring is over and conditions are now HOT and WET. Vegetable plants don't love these conditions, so a lot of our e1 read more »
Bread Shares for June 24, 2023
Here is your Bread Share email!
This email is just for Bread Share members so that you can select your loaf variety through this software. You'll get an email like this each week that you have a Bread Share scheduled. Log in below or with this link and see your loaf options for this week1 read more »
Farm Shares for June 24, 2023
Pictured above: some of the thousands of heads of garlic we're currently bringing in from the field and hanging in our barn to dry. We love garlic!
We hope all the Fathers out there had enjoyable Fathers' Days last weekend! We tried our best to spoil farm dad Dan as best we could. He asked fo1 read more »
Bread Shares for June 21, 2023
Here is your Bread Share email!
This email is just for Bread Share members so that you can select your loaf variety through this software. You'll get an email like this each week that you have a Bread Share scheduled. Log in below or with this link and see your loaf options for this week1 read more »
Cool, Dry Spring about to end... for June 21, 2023
We hope all the Fathers out there had enjoyable Fathers' Days yesterday! We tried our best to spoil farm dad Dan as best we could. He asked for mountain biking with friends, followed by swim time, chill time, and dinner-and-a-movie time. Dinner was coleslaw with our cabbage and homemade mayo,1 read more »
Bread Shares for June 17, 2023
Here is your Bread Share email!
This email is just for Bread Share members so that you can select your loaf variety through this software. You'll get an email like this each week that you have a Bread Share scheduled. Log in below or with this link and see your loaf options for this week1 read more »
Approaching Summer Solstice... for June 17, 2023
Repeat information from last week for our every-other week members: June is the month that Summer officially begins (the Summer Solstice is just SIX days away!), our farm starts peak harvest period, Tomatoes and all Summer crops start really rolling, and we get to see how this year's group of1 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.