Flotsam Farm is an 8 acre property in the valley of Bryant Creek. We have 3 large gardens and a high tunnel where we produce sweet potatoes, potatoes, garlic, onions, tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, basil, okra, cucumbers, carrots, green beans, cowpeas, and a variety of greens in quantities large enough to supply our family for the year with extra to sell and share. We also grow blackberries, elderberries, hazelnuts, black walnuts, figs, and mulberries. We maintain a flock of about 30 chickens, mostly for eggs, and a handful of ducks. We have a small herd of dairy goats which provide milk, meat, and additional income.
About half of our property is pasture/hayfield while our home, farm buildings, gardens, wild areas and open woodland make up the other half. We sell produce by word of mouth (including email and social media), and occasionally market to natural grocery stores. We also operate a self-service roadside stand on our farm.
We deeply enjoy nature and the reason we farm is to produce healthy food in an environmentally and socially responsible way. We use a variety of organic and resource-conscious methods including green manures, composting, drip irrigation, mulching, crop rotation, and maintaining areas for pollinators, wildlife, and native plants. A large portion of our farm and household electricity comes from solar power, and we heat with waste wood from local sawmills.
In addition to growing food, we are community organizers, hosting weekly potlucks featuring guest speakers, discussions, and activities, as well as multiple annual music festivals showcasing local and regional performers. These events bring together children, elders, and everyone in between, and serve to build a culture that embraces sharing good food, helping one another, using appropriate technology, making art, having fun, and connecting with nature.