Meet Charlotte and Wes

Meet Charlotte and Wes Swancy; incredibly friendly looking folks, aren't they? These are the faces of the the talented farmers of Riverview Farms who grow the amazing organic delights for the Peachtree Corners CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).

The 2009 CSA season is set to launch in late May, and to kick-off the year, the Swancy family invited CSA members to their farm for a tour and into their home for a pot-luck style brunch.

My family and I eagerly traveled 70 miles northwest of Atlanta, anxious to see where our food is grown. Riverview Farms is up I-75 near Cartersville, properly nestled on 200 acres in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachians and is one of the oldest and largest certified organic farms in the state.

We joined approximately 35 individuals from four or so CSAs in the greater Atlanta area for a magical afternoon on the farm. People congregated on blankets and chairs around the obviously lucky pesticide-free yard (I found two four leaf clovers right next to each other, one for each of my daughters), sharing a tasty meal anchored with Riverview Farms sausage (from the Berkshire pork they raise, anti-biotic and hormone free), grits (milled on site from organic corn from their farm) and the best pancakes I've ever had (I'm not sure what the secret was behind these).

After brunch came the farm tour; I loaded my two-year old in our hiking back-pack, and off we went on our mile long walk, desperately trying to keep up with Charlotte so we could hear all the specifics about how the grass-fed cows and pigs are raised, what produce they have planted for the spring season, the challenges they have faced with the unusually wet spring we've had. I must have asked a hundred questions, yet considering the situation, was unable to take any notes.

So, by memory, here are some interesting facts:

• The Swancy's run the entire operation with only four full-time workers- Wes, Charlotte and two others. Occasionally, other family members help out with planting, harvests and with the livestock, but not on a daily basis. So, basically four people prepare the land, plant and water the crops, harvest the produce, pack all the CSA boxes, make the deliveries and work farmer's markets. And did I fail to mention that the Swancys have a two year old son, Graham? Whatever the farm is making in profit, it's not nearly enough in my opinion.
• The land was originally, hundreds and hundreds of years ago, occupied by Indians. To this day, the land is considered as sacred grounds and the Swancys occasionally even find ancient artifacts. Wes shared with me that the exact location where our produce grows was a burial ground for the tribe. I found this fact to be absolutely fascinating and will somehow feel even more fulfilled and grateful the next time I prepare a meal using Riverview Farms produce.
• The crops are irrigated primarily from water from the Coosawattee River, which is immediately adjacent to the field. Even their watering practices are sustainable!

Near the end of the tour, my older daughter came over to me, smiling from ear-to-ear, with a lady bug on her hand, another small stroke of luck at the farm. I then looked down and noticed there were ladybugs everywhere, hundreds and hundreds of them. I almost thought I was hallucinating. And any gardener knows that where there are lady bugs taking care of business, there is gold waiting to be harvested.

With enormous gratitude~ Robin

For more information about the Peachtree Corners CSA (everything you wanted to know and more, including subscription deadlines), visit http://www.peachtreecornerscsa.ning.com/. The spring season starts May 27th and the deadline to subscribe for spring is next week.

If you are new to the CSA and have questions, please join us for a Q & A on Eating Locally (with a focus on the CSA and local farmer's markets)
Thursday, May 14th from 11-12:15 pm at the Robert Fowler YMCA in Peachtree Corners. And, if you plan on subscribing to the spring season, please bring your checkbook.

Sustainable Peachtree Corners: Positively promoting green, sustainable living for those who live, work and play in the Peachtree Corners community.

photos courtesy of Liz Bigmura- thanks Liz!