Sunday, March 29, 2009

Greenhouse almost finished in Louisa


The rain and mud have made it difficult to get around on the farm this week. Multiple cars have gotten stuck at this point, and walking is no easier! Still, the greenhouse in Louisa is almost finished,and most of the rows for planting are complete.

We will be transplanting the veggies from the little greenhouse in Richmond out to Louisa and then starting more plantings in the big greenhouse. There is a lot going on, but the most exciting thing is that spinach should be producing in the next few weeks! As April looms near, the idea of cooking with fresh veggies from the farm is getting us through the dreary weather.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Check Out EOD on LocalHarvest

Edible Old Dominion is now listed on localharvest.org. Be sure to stop by, take a look at what we're offering, and review us!

http://www.localharvest.org/csa/M27337

The sun is shining--it's going to be a great week for planting.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Great Article re: Organic Branding -- New York Times

As if they were reading our minds, the New York Times carried this article about organic foods yesterday. It highlights many of the reasons we've chosen not to be certified organic.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Organic: To Be or Not to Be?

Many CSA members have asked why we are not certified organic. To sum it up, our food philosophy is about nutritious, locally-grown whole foods, and "organic" foods do not always fit this description!

To be certified "organic," farmers must pass rigorous government inspections, which takes time and attention away from the labor-intensive process of planting, growing, and harvesting. It is also very costly to obtain organic certification from the government, and we would rather not have to pass that cost along to customers and CSA members.

This is not to say that we don't favor pesticide-free produce--we never use pesticide on our fruits or veggies. The truth is that a wide variety of food can be certified organic; it is even possible to have an organic Twinkie. There is organic maltodextrin and organic corn syrup--items we tend to avoid in our own family. Further, organic food is shipped all across the world--that organic apple juice box you pick up at the supermarket in Virginia may have come from Turkey. "Organic," in our view, has become just another brand, and we prefer to offer brand-free, pesticide-free, real food that goes from the farm to your dinner table.

We grow what you eat. Our produce comes from fewer than 50 miles away to the farmers' markets and your homes. It has not been treated for flavor, color, or shelf-life. We do not use pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Our prices are much lower than those of our competitors--you shouldn't have to go broke to enjoy whole foods. Fresh, local fruits and vegetables form the basis of a healthy diet--no Twinkies in sight!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Spring is here

The weather is delightful today, and it seems as if spring finally is here in Richmond! Just a little over a month to go before the summer markets start, and we are very excited to report to that we are officially selling at the Bryan Park and South of the James markets this season. Be on the lookout for us at the markets, and if you're in the CSA, please let us know your preferred weekly pickup location. Depending on when you stop by, you may also get to meet our littlest farmer, Charlotte!

We have spinach, turnips, and onions in the ground and will be planting tomatoes next week. The seeds are coming along very well in the greenhouse--the temperature has been cooperating, and the plants are loving the warmth.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Snowy Greenhouse and March Updates

Wow, we can't believe it's March! We have not updated in the past week, mostly because we've been busy going back and forth from East End headquarters to Louisa. The plants in the greenhouse are loving the heating mats we have on the floor. We are seeing sprouts from most of the plants at this point, and we are almost ready to transfer them to Louisa for growing.

We have heard many requests for strawberries. At this point, we will not be offering strawberries this season, but we're looking into it.

The snow storm yesterday was beautiful, but we had to stay on our toes to keep the greenhouse
from being covered. Gentle sweeping with a broom kept the roof of the greenhouse free of a heavy snow load. We'll be heading out to Louisa later this week to check on the land and start tilling.

Please keep us informed of your questions and concerns--the growing season is really underway, and the local markets are all starting to get geared up. Look forward to seeing everyone.