Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

February 28, 2008 issue

Community Supported Agriculture Shares Available

Farms Offer 2008 Local Food by the Week

Story by Celeste von Mangan

Want to eat more locally grown food? High Country residents can now buy Community Supported Agriculture shares—called CSAs—from local farmers in Watauga and Ashe counties. Purchasing a CSA provides weekly food fresh from the farm to your table during the 2008 growing season.

Reservations for the shares are available now from several High Country farms. Each one offers something slightly different to accommodate the individual needs of their CSA customers.

Maverick Farms

“This is our fourth season of selling CSA shares here at Maverick Farms,” said Tom Philpott, co-founder of Maverick Farms. “We are happy to continue to offer this unique and important local food opportunity in the High Country. As in years past, we will be offering a share of the harvest for a 20-week season.”

The Maverick Farm season runs from June 3 to October 14 with full shares priced at $500—equal to approximately $25 per week of produce. The full shares are calculated to provide enough food for a family of four. Half shares are also available for $250 for a full season and are equal to approximately $12 per week for an individual or couple.

“Like last year, we will require a work commitment of six hours for full shares and three hours for half shares,” said Philpott. “We will also offer two working shares again this year. If you are interested, please contact us, as space is limited. We especially appreciate all the encouragement and support we have received throughout 2007 and the great challenges of growing in the drought.”

CSA shares for Maverick Farms must be secured by Saturday, March 15. Call 828-963-4656 or send email to info@maverickfarms.com.

Rose Mountain Farm

A family farm located in Ashe County, Rose Mountain Farm is a Certified Naturally Grown Farm, a member of New River Organic Growers and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association as well as members of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.

CSA shares at Rose Mountain are based on a 24-week season. A full share costs approximately $33 per week while a half share costs approximately $18.75 per week. Members of the Rose Mountain Farm CSA will also receive a 10 percent discount on all extra purchases at the Ashe County Farmers Market. Large families requiring more food can receive a 10 percent discount for two full CSA shares when purchased by the same family. Work commitments are not required to purchase shares.

A wide variety of vegetables, including greens, potatoes and shitake mushrooms, are available in the CSA shares. Eggs, pork, beef, lamb and poultry that is hormone- and antibiotic-free is also available. Shares are picked up weekly at the Saturday Ashe County Farmers Market in West Jefferson.

Call 336-977-2535 for more information and to reserve your CSA share. Send email to ann@rosemountainfarm.com.

Yellow Wolf Farm

“We do 20 shares and I have four shares left,” said Stacy Martin, owner and operator of Yellow Wolf Farm in Todd. “All of our meat is pasture-raised without hormones or antibiotics; our produce is certified naturally grown. From three-quarters of an acre, we produce herbs, flowers, a lot of greens—really nice mixes—winter squash, beans and heirloom tomatoes. Our new people buying shares this year are from Boone and Sugar Grove.”

Pickup for Yellow Wolf Farm CSAs occurs weekly, at the Saturday Ashe County Farmers Market in West Jefferson. Share prices begin at $250. Eggs and goat milk soap are included in CSA shares.

“We let people pack their own bags, so they can get what they want,” said Martin. 

Yellow Wolf Farm raises heritage breed chickens, turkeys and geese and the handcrafted soap produced on the farm is made with milk from their dairy goats.

Call 336-709-6541 for more information or send email to yellowwolffarm@yahoo.com.

Moretz’s Mountain Orchard

“I offer CSA subscriptions to local families,” said Bill Moretz, owner of the orchard.

Under Moretz’s plan, customers receive one bag of apples per week for 12 weeks, each one containing three apple varieties. In the second year, the customer can choose half of the varieties included and in subsequent years, the choice of apples are up to the customer. Moretz’s orchard was started in the 1930s by his grandfather and today produces more than 90 different apples, from antiques to modern varieties.

Call 828-264-3424 for more information or to order your apple subscription.