Truly, everyday is Earth Day at the farm. Our entire business was built to serve the earth - to produce nutrient-dense vegetables using organic, sustainable, and regenerative growing practices as much as possible. We produce vegetables this way not only because it's what we think consumers want, but also because it just makes sense. Our farm is 184 acres, and if we don't take care of our soil and water, we can't grow vegetables. We are proud to take good care of this little parcel of earth so that you and your family can eat food grown right here in your "neighborhood" (or county, or state). Happy earth day, everyone! Here are a few ways you can celebrate.

1. Join a CSA.

Sure, our CSA is a good option, but really, joining any CSA or local meat share is a wonderful vote for mother earth. When you purchase food that was produced within your region, you’re buying food with a lower carbon footprint. This food didn’t have to travel thousands of miles to get to your kitchen. It’s also seasonally appropriate, packed with more nutrition, and better tasting. A win for mother earth, a win for you.

2. Cook a meal with all locally-sourced ingredients.

Cooking a meal with ingredients sourced from your region is not only a good move because they’re likely high-quality products, but it is also a way for you to deeply connect with your bioregion. What can the earth around you support, and when? What does a regenerative pork chop topped with a homemade chimichurri sauce taste like? (Hint - It’s going to be incredible, with minimal effort). Cooking with vibrant, fresh, and locally-sourced ingredients is a wonderful taste and thought exercise that will hopefully make you mindful about how the products you consume came to be, and the negative, neutral, or positive impact the production of this food could have on this earth - your home. Plenty of veg-forward and seasonal recipe ideas here.

3. Buy food from producers you know and trust.

Food marketing is riddled with greenwashing, but when you purchase food from a farmer or producer you actually know, you can ask questions about growing practices and working conditions. You can even visit the farm to see it all for yourself.  Even certifications, like that of organic or GAP, can only go so far… but when you buy veggies from a producer you know, you can be certain they are doing good by the land they cultivate. We love our farm, and if we don’t take care of our soil and water, we won’t be able to grow vegetables on it forever, which is why we do things like cover cropping, which returns nutrients and organic material back to the soil, and provide habitat for pollinators. These are just two of the many, many ways that we manage our farmland to ensure its healthy future.

4. Visit a Farmers Market.

There are so many reasons to shop at a local farmers market, but perhaps one of the most compelling reasons is that most of the market organizers have done the thoughtful and purposeful work of identifying vendors that use sustainable and regenerative farming practices. At the markets we attend, you can peruse any market stall and rest assured that you’re buying food that is not only good for you, but also good for the environment. Also: what other grocery store experience allows you to enjoy the outdoors, soak up some Vitamin D, and meet the people who actually grow your food? If you don’t normally shop at a market but would like to start, here are some tips to ensure you’ll actually want to go back.

5. Think about soil, and then go play in it.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of soil health when considering the global demand for food and food production. Without healthy soils that contain a plethora of biology (think: bugs! Bacteria! Fungi!) we will be unable to grow nutritious food for our planet. Here is some reading to get you started if you haven’t considered the importance of soil before. And now that you’re thinking about soil, go play in it! There’s plenty of research out there that supports the idea that playing in the dirt releases endorphins and can actually make you happy and healthy, and as anyone with a home garden can attest - the anecdotal evidence is STRONG! Our Transplant Sale  is still going strong, and we have hundreds of varieties of fruits, herbs, vegetables, and flowers like celosias, marigolds, and millet just waiting to be planted in your own backyard or patio space. We’ve got compost, too.

P.S. If Earth Day has you considering farming as a profession.... WE'RE HIRING!! It's busy time at the farm, and there are several positions that are available including a spot on our Barn Crew as well as a Farm Administrator position. You can find all the current job postings here on our website. Know someone who is looking for a job that might be a good fit for JBG? Do us a favor, and help spread the word about these great opportunities to join our farm family! Spring is here, and many hands are needed.

As always, thanks for reading! And happy Earth Day!

A pre-covid potato peace sign to celebrate earth day.... though you don't have to be a hippy dippy farmer to know that Earth Day is important.