Meet the Zephyr Family
Like a lot of folks, 2020 forced us to stop and look deep. We realized farming was a way to combine all our dreams for family, work and community into one project. So we set out to build a farm. We are Amanda and Steven, farming with our two youngest kids on site and our oldest cheering us on from up north. Steven learned to grow on his grandparents' farm in Hertford County, North Carolina, raising the Appalachian vegetables his family brought with them from Western NC. Amanda grew up surrounded by plants. From her family's gardens to her grandparents, there were tasty things growing everywhere. Food has always been an important part of both our lives and relationships, and growing and cooking is a big way we show our love and how we connect with our past. We're excited to share the produce we love with our community!
How We Grow
We have been Certified Naturally Grown from the start. CNG is a grassroots organization, based around farmers supporting each other, that makes certification accessible to small farmers. For Steven, CNG means accountability, a way for customers to know exactly what standards are being met. For Amanda, it's about participating in the communities she wants to see.
Soil First
A healthy soil community is our first line of defense, and we put it first in every decision. We till as little as possible, build our beds with forest mulch, compost, spent mushroom blocks and biochar, then rotate crops around the farm and cover crop open beds.
No Chemicals, Ever
No chemical fertilizers and no chemical pesticides. We feed the plants with compost tea, alfalfa, fish emulsion and feather meal, and we handle pests with bug netting, trap crops, companion planting and our own two hands.
If we're managing an unusual pest or disease situation and resort to spot treating a row, we use gentle, natural products that are O.M.N.I. approved and fit the strict requirements of our CNG certification, like diatomaceous earth or castile soap.
Our Soil Technicians
Our pet pigs Avery, Appel and Fern are moved strategically throughout the farm, weeding and fertilizing as they go. They also help quickly transform our veggie waste, and bring extra joy to our farm days.
