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Great Country Farms

Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, Produce Farm, U-Pick, Field Trips in Loudoun County, VA

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Perfectly Crafted Mad Magic

August 9, 2021 by Kate Zurschmeide

Wait…what is Kombucha and can it be Mad Magic?

Mad Magic kombucha in a market basket at Great Country FarmsHave you heard the buzz over kombucha? People all around the world are taking note and trying these drinks, but their benefits were first discovered many years ago. Kombucha is a fermented tea that is full of amazing health benefits. Kombucha contains probiotics which promote gut health. The word probiotic means “promoting life” and kombucha does exactly that! When your gut health is boosted, the rest of your body benefits as well. Recent studies have shown a strong connection between gut health and overall well-being. Kombucha also contains antioxidants which have been shown to help the body fight certain diseases and help cleanse the body of toxins. Another great benefit to kombucha is that it is delicious and refreshing to drink! To learn more about Kombucha and why it is good for you, check out the FAQ  on Mad Magic’s site.

Why do we love Mad Magic?

All the flavors of Mad Magic Ginger Lemon Kombucha displayed on a circle in the grass in the farm Market at Great Country FarmsDrinking kombucha is becoming a popular go-to for people all over the world, so why did we choose Mad Magic for our farm market? One thing that caught our attention about Mad Magic is that its “SCOBY” which stands for symbiotic culture of bacteria yeast (what gives kombucha life) is brewed in an organic environment and only once to create a strong brewed taste. This means, no artificial flavorings or ingredients and no added sugar. Their kombucha is hand brewed in Northern VA to ensure the highest quality drink possible. Mad Magic claims, this is why you’ll be drinking “ purely magic” and we agree!

 

What are their different flavors?

Mad Magic brews a total of over 15 flavors of kombucha and we proudly sell 7 of the most popular ones in the Great Country Farms market. For a new kombucha fan, this can feel overwhelming. We found this fun personalized quiz on their site to help you narrow down the choices and find the flavor that fits your personality and taste. Mad Magic also created a page to help describe each of their delicious fermented flavors.All the flavors of Mad Magic Ginger Lemon Kombucha displayed on the side of a wine barrel in in the farm Market at Great Country Farms

How can I try their products?

We are proud to offer a selection of Mad Magic in our farm market so you can pick some up on your next visit and lucky for us, Mad Magic is locally distributed! They also share their products at Farmers markets, local breweries like Vanish Brewery in Leesburg and House 6 Brewing located in Ashburn and several other pop up locations all around Northern Virginia. One of the most exciting things about Mad Magic is that they also have a tasting room, a one stop shop for all of your kombucha desires, now that’s magic!

Contact:

Website:https://www.madmagickombucha.com/ 

Phone: 540-364-2639

IG: @Madmagickombucha

Tasting Room Hours: Monday-Friday 11AM-5PM, Saturday 1PM-5PM

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Village Cheeseworks Making Local Cheese Work!

July 26, 2021 by Kate Zurschmeide

If you’re planning your next outing to Bluemont, leave room for cheese! We are excited to  feature Loudoun’s newest  local, natural, (and delicious) cheese from Village Cheesworks in our Farm Market and at Henway Hard Cider on their local menu.  Their products are a perfect compliment to your favorite summer beverage on the porch, charcuterie board for a night in, or grilled cheese dinner for the kids. 

 

Why do we love them?

When Eric Hilgartener walked into our Farm Market this spring with a small cooler and a cutting board, we were blown away by his passion and energy for the newly formed Village Cheeseworks.  We have known this Loudoun Family for years as Eric’s dad used to coach our boys in wrestling and Eric was an amazing wrestler at Loudoun Valley in his day. Now that discipline and energy is focused on making fine cheese and actively engaged in supporting and preserving family farms. Their attitude is that it “takes a village,” and we couldn’t agree more! All of their milk comes from the last Loudoun Dairy Family Farm, Potts Dairy, outside of Purcellville.  The dairy has been in operation for 5 generations and produces some of the highest quality milk for cheesemaking (think butterfat) found on the east coast.   

Another way that this cheese is uniquely local is that the Blue Cheese, aptly named, Bluemont,  is washed with our own cider from Henway Hard Cider Company. This washing process keeps the blue marbling inside the cheese rind rather and is a natural approach to creating this blue cheese rather than using a chemical wash.   

What are the different cheese varieties?

Bluemont

The Bluemont is tried and true to its name! This blue cheese pairs well with red or sparkling wine. It also pairs well with dried fruits, pears, figs, and whole grain crackers. When it comes to meat, this flavor tastes best with beef, especially steak. Uniquely cider washed with our own Henway Hard Cider.

 

Round Hill Cheese from Village Cheeseworks pictured with fresh cherries from Great Country Farm Round Hill

The Round Hill is a beautiful example of the Brie/Camembert style of cheeses. It makes a great compliment to farm fresh plums or sweet jams and crackers. When choosing food with this cheese, think of a rich brie style flavoring.

 

Zulla Zulla Cheese from Village Cheese works pictured in the Great Country Farms Market with fresh peaches and jams and jellies.

The Zulla is a French Muenster inspired washed rind cheese with a little bit of complex ripening for the real cheese lovers. Due to its slightly salty nature, Zulla is great on sandwiches and has excellent melting properties. This cheese is rich and designed for the true connoisseur. 

 

How can I try their products ?

At Great Country Farms, we carry Village Cheeseworks in our farm market for purchase. Village Cheeseworks strives to create strong relationships with the local community by offering their products at local farmer’s markets and events. They are passionate about making their products available to customers in the area. To find out more about where to try their cheese, give them a follow on Instagram!

 

Instagram: @villagecheeseworks

Filed Under: Uncategorized

5 Steps for Peach Picking Perfection

July 14, 2021 by Kate Zurschmeide

Peach Picking Perfection

Ripe peaches on the trees in the orchards at Great Country farms.We’re starting to feel the heat this summer which means one thing- it’s finally peach season at Great Country Farms! Our peach trees are loaded with some of the biggest, juiciest peaches we’ve seen in years at the farm. We want our guests to have the best peach picking experience, so we sat down with Orchard Manager, Andrew Taylor, to get the inside scoop on all things peach as we approach our Peach Fuzztival Weekend July 31- August 1, 7 & 8! 

 

5 Steps to Picking the Perfect Peach

 

  1. Determine the plan for your peaches.

Peaches can be used in a variety of different ways! Determining your plan for the peaches you pick before you pick them will help you decide how ripe you’ll need them to be. If you plan on enjoying them as soon as you leave the parking lot, you will want to search for a riper, softer, peach. If you’d like to use your peaches further in the future choosing a firmer peach will be a better option for you.

2. Choose your variety.

Once you arrive in the orchards, decide which peaches you’d like to try. Will you pick both white and yellow or will you only stick to one variety? We’ve got the rest covered! Simply check in with a GCF employee and they will be happy to help guide you!

  • Yellow vs. White Peaches

At Great Country Farms, we are proud to grow 20 different varieties of peaches. It’s almost hard to believe that there are so many different peaches out there!  It might seem overwhelming, When you are picking your perfect peaches, you will see that there are both white and yellow peaches to choose from. People have preferences on which they think could be sweeter based on their palette, but the sweetness is actually more determined by how long they hang on the tree. We agree that both are equally delicious.

  • Donut Peaches

If you have little ones in your picking crew or are looking for a less messy peach, a donut peach may be the way to go! Donut peaches are small in size, sweet, and they make an easy, healthy snack! Donut peaches are great for the whole family to enjoy because of their small size and sweet taste. These peaches will be available for u-pick in the coming weeks. Be sure to sign up for our U-pick alerts on our website and to follow it on social media to be notified when these delicious treats are available for picking.

3. Give the perfect twist & pull.

Child picking peaches at Great Country FarmsOnce you’ve spotted the perfect peach (yay!), gently grab it and pull down, removing it from the tree. Keep it safe in a bag or box from home or provided to you at the U-pick station. Now that you’ve got the hang of it, have fun and pick as many as your heart desires!

4. Store gently to prevent bruising.

We recommend picking peaches toward the end of your visit to avoid adding extra weight to your farm visit if you plan on roaming the play area and visiting our adorable animals. On a hot summer day, it is best to avoid leaving them in your car for a prolonged period of time. 

5. Take home and enjoy!

If you can resist eating them all on your drive home, peaches are best stored at room temperature on your counter top until they reach your desired ripeness. If you are looking to keep your peaches longer, you may want to learn how to can or freeze them for later use. If you can’t make it to our orchards this year, visit our farm market from 9AM-5PM daily to purchase fresh picked peaches at your convenience. You don’t want to miss this harvest!

 

Bonus Tip:  Plan your visit for extra family for on the farm and mark your calendar for our Peach Fuzztival (July 31-August 1,7 & 8, 2021). It’s going to be peachy! 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Top 5 Reasons to Buy a GCF Farm CSA Produce Box This Season

February 18, 2021 by Kate Zurschmeide

  1. You care about your local community & how your food is grown

We believe change must start on the farm and in the soil.  It is our mission to steward this land and sustain it so it can sustain future generations.

2 boys struggle to carry their CSA produce Box from Great Country Farms.

CSA pick up helps families know their food & farmer.

Great Country Farms (GCF) is a regenerative agriculture farm and we grow our Community Support Agriculture (CSA) veggies without synthetic chemicals and use regenerative growing practices.  What is regenerative farming and why do we farm this way? In 2018, Farmer Kate was diagnosed with colon cancer and although her oncologist said it was, “just bad luck,” we knew there was more to the story.  Her healing journey led us to the work of Dr. Zach Bush, Triple Board Certified Physician, who found that treating one cancer patient at a time would never stem the tidal wave of patients coming to his clinic in central VA.  He draws the connection between our soil health and our own microbiome “inner garden” so clearly in his film, Regeneration: The Beginning.  

This journey has caused us to double down on our efforts to employ regenerative farming techniques  such as no-till planting, crop rotations, compost tea fertilizer, cover crop cocktails, mulching and more. The quality of our soils has improved tremendously in the 3 years since Kate’s diagnosis and we are more excited about farming for your family now than ever before. 

2) You want the healthiest most nutrient-dense food you can find to feed your family & build immunity.

Basket with onions, kale, strawberries, and a GCF refrigerator magnetIn these pandemic times, building our immune systems is a top priority.   With each GCF Harvest Produce Box, you will experience truly fresh fruits & vegetables picked within a day or two and packed with flavor & vitality when arriving at your table. This is simply not available at the grocery or other “fresh” food delivery services. By purchasing a CSA Harvest Box, you are taking a stand to support food grown in ways you prefer.  By encouraging your friends to do the same, you take action to increase the kind of farming you’d like to see.  Based on this Rodale Institute white paper,  “The Power of the Plate: The Case for Regenerative Organic Agriculture in Improving Human Health”, regenerative growing practices are essential to producing the most healthy, nutrient-dense food you can feed your family.  

3) It’s time to get outside and connect with nature through On Farm Experiences & Pick Your Own

Each GCF Harvest Produce Box includes the opportunity to go beyond eating flavorful nutrient dense produce and offers farm experiences as part of the bounty.  Your CSA Harvest Box comes with unlimited farm admission for your immediate family and pick your own bonus fruits and veggies.   With our 12 acre farm play area and acres of pick your own orchards, you can ensure your family has time outside to breathe fresh air and connect with the land that nurtures us body & soul.  There are a myriad of Health Benefits to being Outside cited on WebMD, from better sleep, increased focus, Vitamin D absorption and the article goes on to note, “Many plants put substances, including organic compounds called phytoncides, into the air that seem to boost immune function.”   This access to the great outdoors simply cannot be found in any other produce box subscription.

4) You want to be able to answer the question, “Who’s Your Farmer?”  

Farmer Mark Dewey waters plant starts in the Green House.

It feels great to buy from real people in your community rather than a faceless corporation.  CSA is a unique way to support your farmers.  With partial payment in advance of the season, you are helping our farm to purchase seeds, trim orchards in the winter, mend equipment and prepare for a bountiful harvest.  Once the season starts, you can engage with your farmers when you visit  and stay abreast of farm happenings through our Crop Talk Newsletter.   You’re invited to share your ideas and recipes and help guide what we grow with your preferences to shape our Produce Growing List..  Know that your voice will be heard when you email Farmer Bill with a question.  Chat with Farmer Mark as he packs produce in our farm market and share ideas on what to cook.  Wave at Farmer Andrew and his toddler, Brodie, as they scout the orchards and decide which peaches & apples to open for pick your own.  Marvel at the multicolored eggs, Farmer Kate gathers and packs daily.   We are real people doing the real work of farming and building relationships and trust with you and our community. 

Fond Farewell ~ From Mark Dewey~ July 26, 2021
On Thursday, July 29, 2021,  I will bid farewell to the fields I’ve been walking for the last 8 years and head south to Charlottesville, where I’ll be serving as a chaplain at the University of Virginia Hospital. Leaving this place and this life is hard to do because I’ve come to think of growing food for all of you as an answer to both the hunger of the body and the hunger of the soul. Feeding you has fed me in ways I couldn’t have foreseen, and the nourishment of my time here will strengthen me for years to come. Thanks for eating with me. Thanks for growing with me. May the Lord bless you and keep you close to the soil. So long.
Mark Dewey

5) You want to know your food will be there without supply chain interruption.

In 2020, we all experienced empty store shelves and many items that took months to reappear due to supply chain challenges.  Our system of supply suddenly seemed vulnerable and we all were wondering, “What Happened to all the Toilet Paper?” as explained in the article from University of Southern Florida.  The article goes on to state that The U.S. imports approximately 50 percent of fruit sold (in groceries), with 20 percent of our vegetables imported from Mexico.  Our farm is located right here in Loudoun County, VA so you know the source of your fruits and vegetables, eggs, and honey is readily available and right here in your backyard.  Additionally, we source local meats and cheeses from other local Virginia farms so when you add on these items you are sending your hard earned dollars right into our  own Virginia economy.   There is no middle man.   Our fruits and veggies come straight from the field to your family.  We have been farming here in Bluemont, VA for 28 years and are so excited to grow for your family this season.

For more Information on Buying a CSA produce Share, produce lists and program details, visit our website CSA Harvest Box Page.

4 Generations fo Zurschmeides Welcome you to our Farm Community

The Zurschmeide Family & Farmhand look forward to welcoming you to our community this season.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: CSA, Local eating, Local Farm, regenerative farming

Whole-life Nutrition for Life-long Wellness

December 1, 2020 by Kate Zurschmeide

As the Holiday eating season gets underway, Zach Bush, a great explorer of the microbiome, reaches out to remind us that well-being involves every aspect of our person. In the video linked below, he reminds us that nourishment is not merely a matter of consuming the necessary vitamins and minerals; it requires full engagement of our senses — sight, smell, touch, and taste. Each of those sensory systems processes information in ways that make our bodies more ready and able to use the food we eat, and those systems are most engaged when food is close to its own life source: the soil it grows in. Dr. Bush explains that as soon as a food item is detached from the mother plant, its nourishing properties begin to degenerate. The best way to eat a tomato, he suggests, is to take it off the vine with your teeth. And the best way to eat a meal is to sit at a table suffused with the spirit of gratitude toward the source of all nourishment, in the company of people you love, for the disposition of your body cannot be separated from the disposition of your soul.

Enjoy this holiday invitation to wellness.

Knowledge: Nutrition

Filed Under: Big Pictures, Eat Tagged With: fresh food, Local Food, local foodshed, microbiome, nutrition, wellness, Zach Bush

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Join Us for Sunflower Fest!

Let the Sunshine in! Frolic in the Sunflower Fields and enter our photo contest for great prizes! July 9-17, 2022.

Sunflower Fest Details

Blackberry Bonanza is Back!

Pick your Own Blackberries daily & Jam to sweet tunes on the weekends!Blackberry Bonanza Details

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Harvest the best of all worlds as a FAN or MEGA Member. The sky’s the limit when you come Pick & Play as often as you like and shop the Farm Market on site or from the convenience of home when life gets a bit too crazy for a farm visit. Fan & Market Clubs are combined in one easy subscription. Pick, Play, Market… It’s all waiting for you to flourish and nourish your family.

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Farm Club~ A Fresh Look at CSA

Apple Pressing Then vs. Now

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Pumpkin Chunkin’, A Smashing Good Time

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18780 Foggy Bottom Road Bluemont, Virginia 20135
540-554-2073

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