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It’s Farm Stand & CSA Season
HIP HIP HOORAY, THE FARM STAND + CSA START IN MAY!
The season re-opening of the Farm Stand is only a short distance away. Join us Thursday, May 16th from 4 – 7 PM – there will be live music, farm partners on-hand chatting up / sampling their products, native plants for sale, lawn games, a food truck, and more. Can’t make it on Thursday?! No worries, stop by Saturday, May 18 from 9 AM – 1 PM. The lineup for both days is sure to evolve, stay tuned with updates on Thursday’s re-opening happenings, here and Saturdays, here.THERE’S STILL THYME!
Have you registered for your 2024 CSA shares yet?!Willowsford Farm has a share for everyone. For those who travel frequently, have picky eaters or are in a smaller household – our Custom CSA – is for you. Order what you want, when you want it. For those who enjoy a culinary adventure and eating in season, our Farmer’s Choice CSA is sure to elevate your dining experience. Need a little sunshine in your life?! Join the Flower CSA! Do you love the Farm-fresh pasture raised eggs as much as your neighbors? Join the Egg CSA before they’re sold out!
DID YOU KNOW…
The Farm offers every other week CSA shares? Yep!
The Farm offers home delivery? We sure do!
The Farm offers a 100% customizable CSA share? Yes!
The Farm offers text reminders? Text CARROT
to 571-888-8395WE WANT YOU AT THE FARM TABLE THIS SEASON
Find out which CSA Share is right for you, here.
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From The Field, Plant Native!
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Willowsford residents take pride in their lawns and gardens, and rightfully so! Some residents have even taken it upon themselves to incorporate native plants into their landscapes which we love to see here at the Conservancy! In this article, we’ll focus on why native plants are a great option for everyone’s yards.
What many people don’t know is that a large percentage of the plants grown in landscaping nurseries are not native to our region and can even become invasive when planted in people’s yards.
Continue reading this Field Note by Ranger Emily, here. |
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| Take the Challenge: How Many Hikes Can You Do?
Did you know Willowsford has 40+ miles of trails? Yep! How many have you been on? Join our annual Hiking Spree Challenge which runs from May 16 to June 30. The Spree kicks off at the Farm Stand re-openings on May 16th and May 18th!
Join your neighbors and complete your first hike around the Farm Loop Trail – The first 15 families to do so each day will receive a dozen Farm-fresh eggs. Everyone who registers for the Spree gets a 2024 Hiking Spree Challenge sticker!
Go the extra mile – log your hikes throughout the spree to win prizes and enter our raffle for a free night at Grant Family Campground. Throughout the spree we’ll be hosting guided and themed hikes that will be fun for the whole family. Stay tuned for updates on social media and upcoming newsletters.
Register and learn more, here.
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| There’s A New Farmer In Town! |
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| Welcome to to the Farm-ily, Daris! Daris (rhymes with Paris) completed her first month with the Farm Team and has been a great addition – if you’re asking yourself if she’s as smiley in the field as she is in the photo above, the answer is yes!About Daris: Daris graduated from Wake Forest University with a major in politics and international affairs and a minor in environmental studies. Prior to joining the Conservancy she worked in West Virginia as an AmeriCorps VISTA as a farmer with Grow Ohio Valley. She also has recent experience with policy and nonprofit positions including the US Global Leadership Coalition, Meals on Wheels, and Rock Creek Conservancy.
Next time you’re at the Farm, be sure to stop in and say hello! |
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| The Heart of Our Community |
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What Makes Our World A Little Brighter? You, Our Community!
The past few weeks have been action packed with programs, events and volunteer opportunities.This week we’re highlighting: Willowsford residents, Julie Nash and Mary McManus – these two extroverted humans tabled for the Conservancy during the Stroll Willowsford spring event last Friday. They spoke with fellow residents about all things Conservancy – trails, camping, native plants and Farm offerings. Thanks for sharing your bright smiles, J&M! We also give a shout out to the family with young kids who braved the soggy, cold conditions and attended the Amphibian Walk last Saturday. You’re troopers and we appreciate you showing up! Students from Broad Run High School’s AP Environmental Studies joined us on the Farm to learn about soil biology, agricultural policy, and as seen in this photo, plant broccoli. Thanks kids! And finally, we have Team Greenhouse – these are the frequent fliers of the greenhouse who help seed the food that will be on your plate one day very soon. Collectively our team and volunteers have seeded more than 50k plants – only 80k more to go this season! Thanks for getting hot and dusty with us!
To all of you who didn’t make the newsletter, but showed up to engage and support our efforts:
We. Appreciate. You. |
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| Did you know that the Conservancy offers three types of camping opportunities? Yep, and we’re offering a springtime camping discount!
Grant Family Campground located in The Grant Village is a great spot for camping newbies and families who are looking to gather with friends. Hidden Meadow Campsite is a secluded gem in The Greens Village that is perfect for large groups. This is also the location of our popular Community Bonfire & Camp-over. More of a Glamper? Cedar Pond Pavilion has a beautiful indoor space and outdoor porch great for a Scouting overnight or slumber party. The pavilion can also be rented for classes, meetings, kids’ birthday party or other gatherings.
Do not miss the opportunity to save, secure your next campsite adventure or amenity rental before June 30 using discount code HAPPYCAMPER24 for 20% off. Reservations and additional details about each site can be found on the Conservancy website, here. |
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| Willowsford Conservancy is selling Chesapeake Coffee Roasters bird-friendly coffee to raise funds to purchase bird-box monitoring cameras! Proceeds will go towards purchasing these cameras to allow us to better observe, monitor, and share with you the activity that goes on in our boxes. Our goal is to raise $800 to purchase a camera for each bird species we have nest boxes for: eastern bluebirds, American kestrels, eastern screech owls, & wood ducks!
You can buy this delicious coffee and support our cause at our booth during Farm Stand opening week on May 16th & May 18th or stop by the Boat House during our weekly egg sales on Thursdays from 11 AM to 1 PM. If you don’t like coffee, but you want to support Coffee for a Cause, you can also make a donation of any amount on our website, here! |
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Farm Stand Clean Out: Volunteer Workday
Join Farmer Anna, Farmer Deb, and Sarah to help clean out the Farm Stand in preparation for the start of our season! Volunteers will help us sweep, clean surfaces, wash the the coolers, apply sealant to our picnic tables, and weed native plant beds. We will sample some Farm Stand products and have light refreshments available! Be sure to wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Great opportunity for high school students to earn volunteer hours before the school year ends!
Date: May 11th
Time: 9AM – 12 PM
Learn more & sign up: HereInvasive Removal Workday with Banshee Reeks
Willowsford Conservancy and Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve are partnering to host a series of volunteer work days aimed to help us eradicate some pesky invasive species before summer arrives. This workday will focus on pulling carpetgrass (also known as anthraxon) from the Wet Meadow which is located beside our Farm Stand.
Date: May 18th
Time: 9 AM – 12 PM
Learn more & sign up, here
With our Summer CSA season about to start, we’re looking for a few more humans to lend us a hand this season. Below are a couple of options – one for those on the shy side and one for the extrovert who enjoys providing high quality customer service.
Produce Bagging
Lend a hand by helping the Farm Team pre-pack produce to be distributed through the CSA and the Online Farm Store. Come and learn about the produce grown on the farm, spend time with other community members and the Farm Team, and see the inner workings of Willowsford Farm.
Learn more & sign up, here.
CSA Host at the Willowsford Farm Stand
CSA distribution hosts are responsible for managing vegetable, egg, and flower share pick-ups, ensuring that members retrieve all the correct items and that the pick-up experience is easy and enjoyable. Knowledge of or interest in cooking with seasonal ingredients a plus! Hosts also will help a farmer set-up and break-down shares, organize the space before, during and after pick-up, and make notes of missed pick-ups.
Learn more & sign up, here. |
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Intro to Archery
This activity is hosted by the Willowsford Archery Club and limited to Willowsford Residents and their guests. A small class, with high instructor/student ratio, which covers topics including an introduction to the Willowsford Archery Club, shooting styles, safety, eye dominance assessment, basic shooting technique, and equipment purchase advice. All equipment will be provided (bows, arrows, finger tabs, arm guards). If you have your own equipment, you are welcome to use it during the class.
2 Date Offerings: May 19, June 2
Time: 12:00 – 3:00 PM
Register: Resident portal login, here + event registration, here
Egg Sales at the Boat House
Stop by the Boat House on Thursday, May 9 from 11 AM – 1 PM and stock up on some delicious eggs from Willowsford Farm! In addition to eggs, our farmers will stock our fridge with any additional veggies and farm goodies they have in stock. Follow us on Instagram and watch our stories on Thursday mornings to see what we have in stock each week!
Date: Thursday, May 9
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Farm Stand Re-Opens May 16!
It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for – join us for the re-opening of the Farm Stand! There will be live music, food trucks, vendors sampling their products and activities for all ages. So mark your calendars and save the date because the Farm team is looking forward to seeing you soon!
Date: Thursday, May 16
Time: 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Location: Willowsford Farm Stand, Ashburn
Yoga at the Farm Stand
We’re excited to have Jennifer of JKS Yoga is join us again this year for yoga classes at the Farm Stand! This beginner-friendly class will take you through a series of poses to help you take in the sights and sounds nature at the Farm Stand. This will be a monthly program on June 8th, July 14th, August 10th, September 14th, and October 5th. You can buy individual tickets at each event page or email us at info@willowsfordconservancy.org to buy a season pass and get one class free!
Ultimate Explorer Summer Camp
Willowsford Conservancy is teaming up with Natural Leaders to bring a week of nature-based camp to Willowsford this July! The Ultimate Explorer Summer Day Program is an outdoor drop-off camp that meets Monday through Friday. Students will have the time of their lives exploring the wilds of Willowsford and making friendships while developing self-reliance skills they will carry with them forever. From hiking trails and exploring creeks to learning primitive survival skills like shelter building and fire making, this camp is perfect for any kid between the ages of 7 to 12 for outdoor adventure!
Dates: July 22-26
Time: 9 AM – 4 PM
Learn more & register, here
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Our Mission Is
To protect our land and promote conservation and sustainable farming so that our community discovers a deeper connection to nature and each other.
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