18. January 2011 by admin.

Bella Terra Family Farm is a small, diversified family farm nestled in the northern section of the Montgomery County Agriculture Reserve in Comus, MD on the outskirts of Sugarloaf Mountain.  We raise and sell delicious pastured pork, chicken, and lamb. We also sell fresh rabbit as well as eggs from our pastured, happy & healthy chickens. We raise beautiful, homegrown heirloom vegetables, flowers, and herbs that have not been sprayed or managed with chemical fertilizers or pesticides and we market these through our CSA (community supported agriculture) group, around the community at local farmers markets, and at our farm stand.

We are committed to the practice of growing real food for the local community, nourishing and building healthy soil with responsible, sustainable farm practices, and creating a space that we live and work in that contributes to the overall health of our human community and our local ecosystem.

We raise food because it combines many values that are most important to us as a family:

* enjoying the meaningful interactions with our customers, families, friends, & neighbors that growing real food brings

*sharing in real work together

*learning and growing as individuals, as a family, and as farmers as we move through daily accomplishments, disappointments, and innumerable teaching moments

*protecting, sharing, and nourishing valuable land & water resources in a very active way

*maintaining farmland as farmland

Posted in About Bella Terra Family Farm | No Comments »

18. January 2011 by admin.

**These are estimates: crop types, varieties, and quantities may vary. 

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18. January 2011 by admin.

“CSA” stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Before the growing season begins, the farmer sells “shares” of their upcoming summer and fall harvest to community members. This gives the farmer “seed” and start-up money at the very beginning of the season, off-setting these costs for the farmer when cash flow is lighter. It also allows the farmer to plan the upcoming growing season according to the size of membership. Our season spans 18 weeks during which members come to the farm and receive a weekly pick-up of fresh, in-season vegetables, pick-your-own-flowers and herbs. Your weekly share changes with the season as it progresses from Spring through Summer to Fall.

Posted in What is CSA? | No Comments »

17. January 2011 by admin.

Lots of folks are drawn to CSA programs for many reasons and there are many good reasons to join a local CSA! If you want fresh, delicious produce, if you love good food, if you want to support local producers, if you want a farm experience or if you just want to see what it is all about- check us out!

Local Farmer & Economy Support

Your membership helps to support your local farmer, strengthens your local economy, and helps to preserve valuable farmland. You’re taking your food dollars away from the huge agri-industrial-food complexes and putting them into the small farms in your own backyard. You’re helping to keep farmland farmland!

Health

We grow our vegetables, flowers, and herbs without the use of any synthetic, industrial chemicals. Click on the “How We Farm” category to see how we control pests and manage the farm. Our family eats this food too! This includes 2 tiny little bodies that need the best possible food they can get.  While we have not pursued formal organic certification, we plan to do so in the future. In the meantime, you have our pledge that we do not use and will never use chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. We purchase only untreated seed stock. Ask us questions, walk the fields, check it out–our farm is open-door. We take very seriously our commitment to providing fresh, healthy food to the local community and to protecting our water and land resources.Your food is harvested right here in soil that we work hard to bolster with minerals and high-quality compost—we harvest within 24 hours of pick-up—the nutrients are not lost in transportation or prolonged refrigeration. You’re getting the freshest, most nutrient-dense produce you can possibly buy. Your body and mind benefit from the freshness and wholesomeness of our vegetables.

Affordability

Our CSA share, on average, costs less than the supermarket retail value of in-season, organic produce. We track the dollar value of your share throughout the season. Typically, there is a steady increase in dollar value as the season progresses. And there are a few dips, like in July when we’re waiting for the tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant to come through and most of the earlier greens and brassicas have bid us farewell. By mid to end of the season, you are receiving the bounty of the harvest and generally, if it’s a good year, you will come out ahead of the value you paid. Our CSA share value averages about $30/week. In slower harvest weeks, you may receive slightly less than this dollar value, in abundant weeks (of which there are more), you will receive over this amount. In the end, you usually end up receiving more than you paid for. However, if it’s a bad farm year, you may receive less overall—please see the category “Is CSA Right For You?” in the sidebar.

Fresh, Real Food

As a CSA member, you will have fun and enjoy tasting and experimenting in your kitchen with many different types and varieties of vegetables (as well as your old-time favorites). We harvest within 24 hours of pick-up. You won’t get anything fresher, better tasting and therefore more nutrient-dense, than our produce.

Environment

Sustainable, organic agriculture works with natural systems to build soil fertility and reserve critical water and land resources. It is better for our water, our air, our land, our bodies, and animals.

Posted in Why Join a CSA? | No Comments »

17. January 2011 by admin.

When thinking about joining a CSA, it’s important to consider whether the Bella Terra CSA model is right for you. Here are some things to consider:

RISK–Both the CSA members and the farmer share in the risks that can affect a season such as unpredictable weather patterns (extended drought, extended rain) and insect damage (stink bugs, potato beetles, etc…).  This is a VERY IMPORTANT piece to understand when deciding to join a CSA.  If it’s a rainy season, you may not get as many tomatoes. If it’s a hot, dry season, you may not get as many greens. The growing seasons are unpredictable and as such, CSA members need to understand that there is a certain amount of flexibility needed when deciding to join! We will work as hard as we can to provide as much as we can at all times. We employ a lot of tactics to minimize damage. Please see the “How We Farm” category in the sidebar to read about how we manage and minimize risk here on the farm.

SEASONALITY– One of the great learning opportunities provided naturally in a CSA program is the understanding of the term “in-season”. You will literally be eating right out of the garden and your weekly pick-ups are directly dictated by the season. As such, you do not receive lettuce or greens during the hot summer months (July & August) but you do receive tomatoes, cucumbers, and basil. You do not receive tomatoes in June (though you might get a cherry tomato or twoJ) but you do receive lettuce, peas, and greens.  You will feel the rhythm of the season—it’s quite an experience in eating and awareness.

QUANTITY—Our CSA shares provide you with in-season produce for your week. As mentioned above, however, if you’re used to eating a green salad or two every week, you will not be receiving lettuce or greens in July or August because you cannot grow lettuce in Maryland during these months. Instead, you will be able to make a cucumber, tomato, basil salad in July and August.  You may find yourself supplementing if you want out-of-season produce or you may find yourself on a great in-season eating adventure!

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