Bunker Farms https://bunkerfarms.net Know Your Farmer Mon, 25 Oct 2021 16:46:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.7.6 https://bunkerfarms.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/cropped-Screen-Shot-2017-12-04-at-5.00.22-PM-e1512919854429-1-32x32.png Bunker Farms https://bunkerfarms.net 32 32 Farm blog kickoff https://bunkerfarms.net/farm-blog-kickoff/ Mon, 25 Oct 2021 16:46:26 +0000 https://bunkerfarms.net/?p=245 Continue reading "Farm blog kickoff"

]]> There’s a lot of time to think when you farm. And making time to organize those ideas hasn’t been happening for me. It’s easy to get caught up in executing the old ideas and becoming too ‘tired’ to do the work required for evolution. But evolution is what this farm is all about. Writing is one of those things that I know I should do more of but just don’t. Like going to the gym. But I’ve learned to go to the gym before, and when you hit a rhythm it doesn’t feel like a chore, actually becomes enjoyable, and the results come.

So here we are.

The blog will provide an outlet for sharing new ideas, current projects, and past mistakes. It will be hands that mold the clay of a future ideal. Look forward to poorly crafted blog posts that end abruptly while the fingerings of the keyboard improve and new ideas continue to take shape.

Over and out!

]]> Spring Update 2020 https://bunkerfarms.net/spring-update-2020/ Wed, 08 Apr 2020 19:47:57 +0000 https://bunkerfarms.net/?p=240 Continue reading "Spring Update 2020"

]]> The pandemic has certainly shakin things up, but don’t panic, Bunker Farms is adapting to still be able to get you the highest quality produce and lamb.  The Charlottesville City Market has gone to pick-up only (at Pen Park) while Market Central (IX market) still allows some browsing but encourages market goers to have orders pre-placed with vendors to minimize interactions. Since it seems like IX is offering more flexibility, we’ll be there until the City Market returns to its normal operation.  So here are the current options for getting our goods…

  • Online pre-orders directly through the farm (no charge)
    • Weekly fresh sheets will be sent out with the week’s harvest and lamb inventory (to get on the list, put your email into the ‘sign up’ box at the bottom of the page)
    • Send an email to karel@bunkerfarms.net with your order before Friday
    • Pick up your order at IX park on Saturdays from 9-12AM (working on a Crozet pickup location for Friday evenings) or opt in for emission-less delivery (EV/bicycle)
  • Online pre-orders through Lulu’s Local Food (Lulu’s will have fees)
    • Browse through Bunker Farms offerings as well as other participating farm offerings
    • Both IX and City Market are adopting this system so you can stock up from any vendor that is using this system
  • Sign up for a weekly CSA (best way to support the farm, best $/veg value)
    • For one up-front fee you will get deluged with a weekly supply of produce from May 1 to July-17
    • Pick up your CSA at IX on Saturdays 9-12 AM or at a Crozet location that is TBD for Friday evenings.  Emission-less delivery is also available for CSA 
    • See Bunkerfarms.net/csa for more details

Some of you expressed interest in the CSA already, if the pre-order is more your style, send me an e-mail and let me know.  I can understand that not everyone likes everything…. but really, you should probably be eating more vegetables!

Things are changing day to day with the current situation, so keep an eye out for more updates.  Fresh sheets will start going out next week.  In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, or if you need some lamb or overwintered kale/spinach (not pretty, but amazingly good) give me a shout.

Be well,
-Karel 

]]> Lamb Collaboration with Wandering River Farm https://bunkerfarms.net/lamb-collaboration-with-wandering-river-farm/ Wed, 16 Jan 2019 23:11:53 +0000 http://bunkerfarms.net/?p=206 Continue reading "Lamb Collaboration with Wandering River Farm"

]]> 2018 was my first full year with running Bunker Farms, not only did the vegetables grow, but the sheep flock grew as well. Starting out with 17 sheep in 2017, the total population on the Crozet farm as of today (Jan 2019) is 36. With lambing season just around the corner, this number is expected to jump to somewhere just over 60 sheep. Now we’re talking. And I mean that in multiple ways. First, a bigger flock means more product. I couldn’t hold on to my lamb supply this past year for more than a few weeks before it sold out. Turns out that lamb raised in this fashion is delicious! Second, more animals means greater efficiency in regards to time spent on grazing management. Managing grazing for 60 sheep won’t take much more time for managing the grazing for 17 sheep. Third, and most importantly, with more animals under good management means a bigger tool for making a positive impact on the soil. This is where Wandering River Farm, run by Gabe Engle, comes in.

Gabe and I see things eye to eye when it comes to raising livestock in a regenerative manner. Meeting through the Charlottesville farmers market, we’ve been comparing notes (more like me copying his homework) and have become big fans of each others’ farmers market offerings. If you haven’t had it yet, Gabe’s beef, pork, and mushrooms are nothing short of the best. Gabe thought the same of my lamb after sharing some chops with him from last years harvest. After introducing him to my experience with raising sheep he saw the same potential I did in having lamb as a viable regenerative farm enterprise and started amassing his own flock at his place just down the road in Ivy, VA.

As the Bunker Farms flock will be bursting at the seams when confined to the 10 acre land lease in Crozet, we’re combining our animals into one herd of which we will share the management duties primarily on his 200 acre farm. Sure we have some details to work out between the two of us, but we believe that good farming is best when played as a team sport. We expect to be managing more than 100 animals come spring to be able to accelerate the ecological regeneration of both farms with a byproduct of nutrient dense, zero grain, grass-fed lamb.

]]> Look for us at the Charlottesville City Market! https://bunkerfarms.net/look-for-us-at-the-charlottesville-city-market/ Sat, 17 Feb 2018 22:16:22 +0000 http://bunkerfarms.net/?p=197 Continue reading "Look for us at the Charlottesville City Market!"

]]> Great news!

Bunker Farms was accepted to sell at the Charlottesville City Market.  To be honest we really didn’t expect to make it into the premier Saturday market.  The local food scene is (thankfully!) bountiful and getting a spot here is a big deal to us.  As most farmers markets in the area typically start in May, this one starts in April so the pressure is officially on.   Planting and butchering schedules have been bumped up to meet the new timeline and we’re gonna try our darndest to show up on April 7th with as much variety as we can!  With the warm, wet weather we have coming, things are looking good…

So come on out Saturday mornings, starting April 7th, to the parking lot by the Water Street Garage and come see us!

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