There is something therapeutic in growing things and we decided to focus our future on agriculture. Farmland is disappearing at an astonishing rate, even as the demand for food increases. The need for small sustainable, environmentally sensible farms, producing locally sourced, quality food is more important than ever. Yet for our farm to be successful, careful planning was key. Planting diverse perennial crops would minimize tilling, reduce labor intensive yearly planting and preserve topsoil. Interspersing plants with native grasses, that grow slowly, reduces mowing, fuel consumption and the pollution that goes with it. Selecting drought tolerant crops that require less water, conserves it.
Technology was equally important, reducing labor and conserving resources. Every gutter on every roof is connected to a rainwater collection system that irrigates our crops through subsurface drip irrigation lines conserving water. This system further allows us to dispense fertilizer directly to the roots in tiny amounts just sufficient to nourish our plants, eliminating surface fertilizers that wash into rivers and streams eventually polluting the Chesapeake Bay.
Our homestead will have an apiary once our lavender fields are established. Lavender requires very little water. It repels harmful insects greatly reducing the need for insecticide that would harm our bees. Geotech fabric together with the native grasses we’re planting control weeds that otherwise consume water and choke our plants. Reducing the weed population reduces the labor required to remove them and eliminates the need for herbicides that would further contaminate the environment. Our property is hilly and surface water is channeled into culverts that carry the runoff into our two ponds before it can erode our slopes and wash away the topsoil. The ponds stay full, our fish and turtles are happy and the migrating geese pause to rest there twice each year. Fountains in the ponds look nice but they aerate the water providing oxygen for the fish and keep it moving to prevent insects from breeding. The pumps for the fountains and the drip irrigation system are powered by a solar array on the property just like the geothermal heat pumps that condition our inside spaces. A solar array will be built on the property to supply more power and we are considering a windmill as well. Everything we do here is researched and planned before we undertake any venture on the property to protect it and we invest heavily in technology to help us. We hope that all but one foundation are dry stacked stone greatly limiting the use of concrete.
Soon we’ll plant fruit trees, grape vines, and flowers in sustainable ways that protect the environment and hopefully enhance it. Our future chickens will be allowed to free range under a wire canopy that protects them from predatory birds but once our fruit trees grow, their branches will replace the wire and the chickens will fertilize the trees. Our goats will browse the property reducing what must be cut mechanically to almost nothing. They ravish the vegetation, supply manure for compost while eliminating the fuel consumption and the pollution of machines that would otherwise be needed. Our adult goats will provide a brood of cuddly little baby goats that seem to endlessly crave attention and treats.
Two areas on the property are quite wet and with the help of the Natural Resource Conservation Service, we are creating a wetlands habitat on which we hope to cultivate berries, mint and fox grapes in harmony with the natural foliage of the habitat. Our vegetables are grown in raised beds with compost from our farm eliminating any need to till the soil. Drip lines control the water used, deprive weeds of it.
Sustainability, environmental sensitivity and sensibility are the principals that guide us at Blossom Ridge. We live here. This is our home. We want to preserve it and we want to share the beauty of this place with others. Come visit Blossom Ridge and learn about our integrated systems. Coming soon you can also enjoy the bounty from our farm and pet and feed our goats. Take some time to admire the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains and just breath.
Launching in summer 2023, we would be thrilled to host your special events in our stunning barn surrounded by magical views. From weddings to any special occasion, your event at Blossom Ridge will be what dreams are made of!
We look forward to meeting you.
Paul & Kari Langevin
