AVALON FARMS

Part 2
For those who have enjoyed Avalon’s wonderful broccoli this year, this is the bed it was harvested from. As you can see, the plants are still rather lush and green. Broccoli is one of those crops that offers it’s prime first and diminishing quantity afterwards as long as you keep it picked. When the plants have finished producing they will be given to the chickens who turn it into nitrogen fertilizer.

Speaking of chickens – I met the Freedom Rangers! While Avalon’s egg layers are a mix of chicken breeds (the reason for all the lovely colors) the Freedom Rangers are grown for meat. They are slow growing birds that work well in free range, organic and pasture environments. The hatchery they are from is very intentional about using sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming methods to raise them. These birds are housed seperatly from the egg producers and their mobile housing is moved frequently so they are always on fresh grass.

The aquaponics system caught me by surprise. Wendy showed the damaged bok choy that had been flourishing there until those unseasonable sunny days in January burned the plants. Wikipedia defines aquaponics as “any system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment.

I felt right at home when we went indoors and I got to load up on caffine for the drive home. All the seed catalogs and sustainable farming books on the big coffee table with the great view outdoors felt familiar and invited good conversation. While Wendy is the hands on person during the week she has the complete support of her Mr. who helps design and build some of the equipment and systems they use. One of their growing principals is that they grow things they themselves enjoy eating. It’s one of the reasons they’re the only growers in the area to offer patty pan squash in season. They are not opposed to trying new methods and vegetables, like the Senposai (which is delicious!) and are constantly looking for ways to improve.

On the drive home I thought about how they have adapted their farming methods to the conditions we have here in Southeast Alabama. Just like beekeeping methods in Ohio and California won’t work here, neither will every organic trick of the trade practiced in other places. The principals are the same but things like soil composition, local resources, heat, humidity, and the local pests play into how those principals are utilized. The Robbins’ are lifetime students in this regard and will no doubt continue to innovate to produce great food. We’re thankful to have them as part of our Market Family.

FOOTNOTES

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