It had snowed over much of Virginia just two days before my visit to Appalachia Star Farm in Roseland, Va. The farm, run by Kathryn and Michael Bertoni, operates a CSA, goes to farmers’ markets and is building a market to sell produce on the farm. The farm practices numerous sustainable methods, including: planting cover crops, using local natural mulch, organic fertilizer, crop rotation and water conservation and catchments.

The farm faces south, so when I arrived most of the snow had melted, allowing me to see the activity on the farm. The only crop growing was garlic.

Garlic shoot growing at Appalachia Star Farm.

The garlic is mulched with hay to maintain moisture. The hay, sourced locally, will also decompose and provide organic matter to the soil. Planting cover crops is another important practice for improving the soil.

Cover crops growing on a field to help protect and renew the soil

Cover crops, a mixture of plants that improve soil, control moisture, provide organic matter and fix nitrogen. Cover crops are planted while seedlings are growing inside, such as this rosemary.

rosemary waiting to be transplanted.

The most active part of the farm were the chickens.

Chickens in their coop.

The coop is moved every couple of weeks to provide fresh ground for the chickens and let the old ground recover.

Eli Bertoni stands next to chickens waiting to be fed.

Visit http://www.appalachiastar.com/ to learn more about the farm