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Great Country Farms

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

Farm Market & Bakery Winter Pick up @Henway

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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. 

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: Eat, Local Farming Tagged With: CSA, Local eating, Local Farm, regenerative farming

We are Here ~ Farming for your Family!

April 2, 2020 by Kate Zurschmeide

Loudoun Local farm fresh produce starts in our Greenhouse

Farmer Mark Dewey gets some help from farm dog, Sandy, watering the green house.

We are all finding new ways to shop, cook, entertain, connect and cope in the light of COVID-19.  One colleague encouraged, “Put down the phone and write.” That has inspired me to pick up the pen and share with you, our Pick your Own and CSA Community, the latest from Great Country Farms.

First and foremost, we are HERE and thankful to be able to support our community with wholesome, nutritious, food grown on this land that we are blessed to steward here in Loudoun County, VA.  This time of uncertainty is challenging for all of us and something none of us anticipated.

As farmers, we regularly have to cope with the uncertainties Mother Nature sends our way – be it frost, raccoons eating all the corn the day before we pick it, too much rain, too little rain or beavers cutting down 300 apple trees overnight as the tireless engineers they were made to be.  COVID-19 is one uncertainty we didn’t see coming but we are steadfast in our planting and plans to grow food for our community and we are here for you and your family. 

Here’s a quick snapshot of how we are pivoting to provide:

  •         We have purchased more seed, more onion sets and more potatoes to step up our spring plantings to help meet the needs for local food. 
  •         Our farmhands are coming into work each day to build our soil, plant the seedlings and nurture the seeds in the green house.  Our regenerative farming is in high gear!
  •         We have stepped up our creativity and computer savvy and are now offering online market ordering and curbside pick-up at the Farm Market. 
  •         We are working with other local farms such as Audley Farm and Baker’s Pork, to bring in more eggs, ground beef, pork and chicken for online purchase.
  •         UPDATE 4.15.20:  GCF Harvest Box CSA Shares are SOLD OUT!  Thank you all for your support. We are evaluating the demand to offer more shares.  If you would be interested in purchasing a 20-week subscription, please join our wait list and you will be the first to know if we open up more shares for the 2020 season.

It is our goal to ensure that the time after this crisis is filled with good food, family fun on the farm, and deeper connections with our community & neighbors.   When your family savors a meal from our farm at your table, you connect with the soil, the seeds, the environment, our farmhand team and our family.  We are honored to be your farmers! We thank you and send you a big “KALE YEAH!”

Peace & Pick Your Own,

Kate Zurschmeide, Founding Family

Filed Under: Eat, Local Farming Tagged With: CSA, farm eggs, farm market, farm to table, ground beef, home delivery, Local Food, local produce, Loudoun farm, regenerative farming, virginia

Custom CSA

January 23, 2020 by Mark Dewey

This change is a big deal.  It means far less wasted food, both for you and for us. It means you can eliminate unwanted items from your box, and add extras if you like.  It means we can add some unusual crops to our growing plan, knowing that people who want them will get them.  It means you have an easy way to buy surplus items in bulk, and we have an easy way to sell surplus items.

It’s a big deal.

Here’s what’s different:

  1. This new system will show you the weekly price, even though you’re buying a seasonal share, and the base price shown is for market-style farm pick-up. If you want join a group site, you’ll be invited to do so after choosing your share, and the delivery charge will be added automatically.
  2. We’ve reinstated home delivery, with two different pricing zones.
  3. When you sign up, you’ll be asked to set your preference level on every item we offer. Then each week you’ll get a chance to adjust your customized box contents.
  4. At group sites, you’ll have to find the box with your label on it. In the market, we’ll give you a customized list, and you’ll pack your box accordingly.
  5. If you use the installment plan, you’ll be charged 25% of your share price at sign-up, another 25% on the day of first pick-up, and the remaining 50% on a weekly basis throughout the season. Any extras you choose will be added to your weekly charge. You may choose to pay in full at sign-up, in which case you would see a weekly charge only if you add something to your box.

The new system is quite user-friendly, and there’s a lot of support available. We think it’s going to be a whole new world of great local food.

Filed Under: Big Pictures, Local Farming, On Foggy Bottom Road Tagged With: CSA, customizable shares, home delivery, Local Food, western Loudoun farm

Top 10 Reasons to Join CSA at GCF

January 19, 2017 by Kate Zurschmeide

  1. 20 Weeks of Fresh Local Produce ~ With CSA membership, you will receive 20 weeks of seasonal farm fresh produce. The season runs from June to October, with u-pick bonus available May  into November.   Check out our Produce List for a sneak peak of all the veggie goodness coming your way.
  2. Sustainable Growing Practices ~You care about how your food is grown, where your food is grown and who is growing it. We are committed to using sustainable growing practices and non-GMO seed and to enriching the land with compost and fish fertilizers. Our fields may not look pristine, but they won’t be laden with chemicals.
  3. U-pick Bonus~ Our CSA is more than a weekly produce shipment. Each week we offer a u-pick bonus for our members, which is included with each CSA share, or at a 10% discount for Fans of the Farm.  No other CSA offers as much weekly Family Fun on the Farm and u-pick experiences.
  4. Fruit ~ We do our best to include fruit in each CSA box.  Many other CSA  farms offer only vegetables. If your family enjoys strawberries, plums, peaches, blackberries, blueberries and apples, then we are the CSA for you!
  5. 10% discount ~ Members receive a 10% discount on all farm parties, with a minimum of 10 paying children. Membership also includes a 10% discount on u-pick and Farm Market produce you may want to add onto your share.
  6. Vacation Make ups ~ When comparing CSAs, be sure to ask how vacations are handled. At GCF, we offer make-up shars for vacation weeks. Our easy online account management makes this a snap, or your can donate your vacation boxes to Loudoun Interfaith Relief Food Pantry and we will deliver them for you.
  7. Choose your pick-up day ~ We are flexible! For members picking up at the farm, you choose the day most convenient for you from Tuesday through Sunday.  You can also choose to hand select your own produce for your share or enjoy the grab and go convenience of a pre-packed share.
  8. CSA Help Desk ~ We are adding a counter in our Farm Market to support our CSA members and help you use all the produce in your share each week. We’ll be offering demonstrations on juicing, canning, and salad sack preservation to help you get the most from your CSA produce.
  9. Festival Admission ~ Enjoy the farm to the fullest! Membership includes admission to our 14 festival weekends on the farm. This is a value of $10 to $12 per person per visit! Check out our website Event Calendar to see what is included with your membership!
  10. 10% off Wine & Craft Brew Purchases~ Enjoy an exclusive 10% discount on wine bottle and  craft brew purchases across the street at Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewing, our sister properties.

Who’s ready to Eat Your Veggies? 

Purchase a CSA Membership

Filed Under: Eat, Local Farming Tagged With: Crop Share, CSA, Pick your Own

Get your Harvest Box Share Today!

Your family deserves fresh, local, nutrient-dense fruits and veggies and our Harvest Box Program is the answer! Enjoy 20 weeks of GCF produce delivered to your door or pick up at the farm PLUS unlimited farm visits for your immediate family!

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Get a Fan of the Farm Season Pass and enjoy unlimited farm admission for up to 6 immediate family members. Includes Strawberry, Peach, Apple & Pumpkin Harvest U-Pick Festivals!

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18780 Foggy Bottom Road Bluemont, Virginia 20135
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