- 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.
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.
In 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.
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.
May is strawberry time, and a lot of farmers have been getting ready for pickers since last August, when the plants went into the ground. Back then, none of us imagined we’d be facing lock-downs and quarantines during strawberry season. A late frost is one thing; COVID-19 is something else.
In previous years, when we used to till our fields, all the rain we’ve had in the last 48 hours would have meant there was no way I’d be heading out to pick spinach this afternoon. Too much mud. But now that we’re into our second year on no-till planting, all that rain does what it’s supposed to do: it disappears into the structure of the soil. That means I can work in the fields immediately after a thunderstorm, which is a great advantage,
