Summertime is in full swing at Edgewood Miller Farm!
This summer has been an incredibly productive season so far at Edgewood Miller Farm! Between growing organic produce for local restaurants and food pantries, cultivating organic CBD and CBG hemp, cutting and bailing hay and industrial hemp, raising piglets and taking care of the EMF animal family, hosting guests at the Bella Vista B&B guesthouse, giving farm tours, and planning and preparing for next season we have stayed very productive and utilized the longer days.
Edgewood Miller Farm Organic Produce
Our gardening crew has been very busy harvesting a plethora of crops. Tons of assorted tomatoes including heirlooms, cherries, artisan pink bumbles, Brad’s atomic grapes, and orange cocktails to name a few. Multiple varieties of peppers like shishitos, purple Murasakis, sweet red peppers and mini chocolate peppers. As well as green and golden zucchini, patty pan squash, butternut and butterscotch squash, candy roaster and delicata squash. A variety of melons including strawberry watermelons, kiku and tigger melons, cantaloupes and honeydews. Plus, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and huckleberries! Let’s not forget potatoes and harvesting many acres of hay!
We’re very grateful for the opportunities to sell our organic produce to multiple restaurants including Jack’s Shop Kitchen in Ruckersville, Barboursville Vineyards in Barboursville, Orzo Kitchen and Wine Bar in Charlottesville, and Real Food in Orange. We’ve also made multiple donations to the local food pantry MESA, the Madison Emergency Services Association. It has been our pleasure to give back to the community and help others.
Save The Earth Hemp
Not too far from our vegetable crops we have been growing and cultivating hemp plants! Four strains of the CBD hemp variety and one strain of CBG were started in the greenhouse at the beginning of May coming to a total of 3,800 plants. In the middle of June, the stout seedlings were planted on two ½ acre fields at Edgewood and the rest on 4 acres at our sister farm, Crescere. Once harvested, the flowers from the plant will be removed, packaged and sent to North Carolina where they will be extracting and bottling up the CBD oil. Harvest time is coming soon so you’ll definitely want to stay tuned to our social media to see the process!
Caramel & Cocoa
In the Edgewood Miller Farm animal family news, we now have cattle! Two Texas Longhorn adult females, Speckles and Caramel, one female Longhorn calf, Cocoa, and a Belted Galloway calf named Franklin occupy the front field. The small herd is a stunning view amidst the green fields and rolling blue mountains. We’ve even noticed drivers slowing down on the road to admire their beauty! They have been a lovely addition to the EMF family and we look forward to watching the little ones grow. Did we mention that Speckles is pregnant?!
We’ve also welcomed two new horses, George and Amigo! They once lived at our sister farm, Crescere, but moved at the beginning of summer. They’ve been loving their new home and grazing alongside the mini horses and donkeys. It is so lovely to watch them play with one another and frolic in the fields. We are grateful to have them at Edgewood and we look forward to taking them on long walks once the weather cools down!
Our sow Hammie gave birth to seven piglets and one still born at the end of June. Unfortunately, we lost one piglet and three weeks after the birthing, Hammie passed away from medical complications. The remaining six piglets are healthy, strong and officially on grain full time! Three have recently gone to other happy homes and their father, Spunky, is currently having fun at a breeding farm.
Sadly, we also lost our beloved cat, Shirkon. Shirkon came with the farm and was about 6 in 2013 when Barb bought the farm. She lived in the big barn and was the matriarch of all the cats. She was sophisticated and self-assured and lovable. She was a good hunter and a cool character that rarely got irritated. She loved her electric bed and cuddles. She was such a sweet girl and is dearly missed.
Spunky & Company
As far as the rest of the EMF family, everyone is doing well! Pickles and Sid are having a blast playing in the river. Our rescue horses are most definitely appreciating the fast-growing fresh grass from all the rain we’ve been having. Our bees have been super busy collecting pollen from all of the sunflowers. The chickens are still producing tons of eggs and enjoying leftover melons and tomatoes. The donkeys and minis are getting extra cuddles from staff. Did we mention our donkey Trixie is pregnant too?! That’s right! Another baby is coming this November! Needless to say, we are extremely excited!
The Bella Vista B&B guesthouse has been booked ALL summer! We’ve had numerous guests from various locations come stay for a relaxing countryside getaway. Our guests have left multiple rave reviews of their stay. So far, the pool has been a highlight of their experience and the complimentary educational farm tours. We are now officially recognized as a “Super Host” on Airbnb.com and the bookings keep coming! It has been wonderful to be able to provide the rest, relaxation, and farm education to others near and far. Interested in reserving your stay at this home away from home? Check out edgewoodmillerfarm.com/guesthouse for more info!
Amigo says “Hello and be safe!”
On a final note, we are grateful to have stayed busy during these challenging times in history. We hope that life for the entire global community will get back to normal soon and COVID-19 will be nothing more than a memory of a time where we all had something in common and we all had to look out for one another. We send a kind reminder to practice safe social distancing, wear a mask when around others and that this too shall pass! We also send a sincere thanks for your continued love and support! We welcome you to stay tuned to our future endeavors with a little bit of E-I-E-I-O spirit!