The Past
Markwith Farms first growing season was in 2015 when they grew watermelons, tomatoes, peppers, and zinnias in Scott Markwith's backyard. Some of you may remember seeing their stand (pictured right) set-up off Route 17 as you came into Gloucester via the Coleman Bridge. The Markwiths decided to take a year off in 2016 in order to better define their plan and gather more resources.
The Present
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We are very grateful to have the opportunity to be growing with and learning from Brent Heath of Brent and Becky's Bulbs. Brent saw our article in the newspaper, believed in our mission, and called to offer his help! We will be growing all of our intensive vegetables on his land this year while we revitalize old farmland for future use. |
Getting to Market
Markwith Farms will start off by selling Community Supported Agriculture Shares, where customers will pay at the beginning of the growing season in order to receive a portion of the harvest each week. Each share will also come with recipes and tips on how to prepare the weeks haul. Customers will pick their shares up at a designated location, or have them delivered to their doorstep for an additional fee. For the 2017 growing season, Markwith Farms will be offering at least 50 shares in their CSA program.
Extra produce will be sold throughout the county and at farmers markets in the Markwith Farms mobile walk-through produce stand. Customers will be able to follow where the stand will be through Facebook and Instagram and will be rewarded with discount for doing so. Eventually, Markwith Farms will establish a permanent market location. The farms unique varieties of heirloom vegetables will be available for sample in order to break down all barriers of hesitation.
The Markwith family is not only interested in fruits and vegetables, but all horticultural products! They will sell flowers throughout the growing season and are looking into creating a weekly flower delivery service. The also intend to hand-craft wreaths for the holiday season.
Extra produce will be sold throughout the county and at farmers markets in the Markwith Farms mobile walk-through produce stand. Customers will be able to follow where the stand will be through Facebook and Instagram and will be rewarded with discount for doing so. Eventually, Markwith Farms will establish a permanent market location. The farms unique varieties of heirloom vegetables will be available for sample in order to break down all barriers of hesitation.
The Markwith family is not only interested in fruits and vegetables, but all horticultural products! They will sell flowers throughout the growing season and are looking into creating a weekly flower delivery service. The also intend to hand-craft wreaths for the holiday season.
The Future
The type of integrated food system Markwith Farms intends to establish requires at least 10 years to become operating at full capacity (the limiting factor being tree fruits and nuts); therefore, the two brothers hope to find and acquire a roughly 100 acre plot of land preferably with access to water as soon as possible. Water access is important because fish is an important source of protein with beneficial by-products. Also, Scott, Annie, and Glenn Markwith all have experience in aquaculture! Large trees are a crucial part to the Markwith Farms system therefore it would be best if the property was forested. A few trees will have to come down to make way for sun-loving annual fruits and vegetables but many will stay up in order to provide protection to shade loving plants. The forest will also provide shade and forage to the variety of livestock Markwith Farms hopes to implement into their system.
As space and resources permit, Markwith Farms will grow and experiment every plant that the are able to. They also intend to try out different species of livestock till they find what works well for the integrated system as well as the appetites of the county. Chickens and turkeys will be among the first animals to roam the farm; however, beyond them, there are currently to many variables to know what animals will become a permanent part of the system.
The entirety of Markwith Farms will be designed around the premise that as time presses on, it is becoming increasingly important for people to be able to see where their food is coming from. Customers will be encouraged to visit the farm whenever they would like! There will be a public pick-your-own berry section, a private CSA style pick-your-own vegetable section, festivals and events, tours, field trips, and any other opportunity to get customers on sight that may present itself.
As space and resources permit, Markwith Farms will grow and experiment every plant that the are able to. They also intend to try out different species of livestock till they find what works well for the integrated system as well as the appetites of the county. Chickens and turkeys will be among the first animals to roam the farm; however, beyond them, there are currently to many variables to know what animals will become a permanent part of the system.
The entirety of Markwith Farms will be designed around the premise that as time presses on, it is becoming increasingly important for people to be able to see where their food is coming from. Customers will be encouraged to visit the farm whenever they would like! There will be a public pick-your-own berry section, a private CSA style pick-your-own vegetable section, festivals and events, tours, field trips, and any other opportunity to get customers on sight that may present itself.
Educational Goals
Markwith Farms will put tremendous amounts of effort into educating the public about the benefits and how-to's of sustainable and local agriculture. They will accomplish this through a variety of means, including: seminars, internships, literature offered at the markets, school field trips, etc. All of these opportunities will be offered at little to no cost. The purpose is to inspire people to think more critically about what they eat, and to perhaps instill a passion for starting a sustainable farm in a few visitors.
The majority of the Farms profits will be donated back to the development of greener horticultural practices throughout the world. At first, the profits will obviously be recirculated into Markwith Farms until roughly 80% of Gloucester food comes from local sources. Once this threshold is neared profits will be set aside to invest for ambitious young farmers in need of money and education. This mission of spreading local agriculture will be the driving force of the Farm, and the fire that keeps the brothers pushing through the hard times; this will be Markwith Farms truest measure of success.
The majority of the Farms profits will be donated back to the development of greener horticultural practices throughout the world. At first, the profits will obviously be recirculated into Markwith Farms until roughly 80% of Gloucester food comes from local sources. Once this threshold is neared profits will be set aside to invest for ambitious young farmers in need of money and education. This mission of spreading local agriculture will be the driving force of the Farm, and the fire that keeps the brothers pushing through the hard times; this will be Markwith Farms truest measure of success.