“Food with a Face” That’s what those associated with Goat Lady Dairy in Climax call the relationship shared by the farmers, consumers and land that support Goat Lady Dairy. This farm and dairy is a great place to get to know your food.

Most people in the NC Piedmont are familiar with Goat Lady Dairy, but they also have a farm dedicated to community-supported agriculture (CSA). Throughout the year, Daniel Woodham, the farm manager, is growing, harvesting and selling produce grown naturally using organic techniques on the three and half acres just up the road from the dairy. You can find him at a table at the Curb Market in Greensboro most Saturdays and for half of the year you’ll see him and the core members of the CSA distributing shares to the members.

For those not familiar with CSAs, a very simple explanation is that you are joining a farm. Each CSA has it’s own way of running, but almost all give regular “shares” of the harvest. Members typically receive a portion of whatever is harvested that week.

CSA shares at Goat Lady are pretty special. Households aren’t just receiving some of the freshest produce available to them; they are joining a community. Last year 88% of the CSA members said they’d recommend Goat Lady CSA to their friends. CSA members can meet each other not only at share pick-ups, but are also invited out to the farm to harvest or pack shares. Socials are also part of the mix–Maypole dance, anyone? (By the way,  the farm is still signing up members for the 2014 CSA. They’re going to cap membership at about 120 people this year so get in touch with Daniel ASAP.)

Meet your farmer: If you’ve visited the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market in the past five years or so, you’ve probably met Daniel. Our local paper, the News & Record even featured a story on him in 2009. He is a delight and you will no doubt be drawn into a conversation. Perhaps y’all can talk about Oregon, where he moved here from, or about how he felt called to be a farmer. Maybe you’ll talk about his relationship with the Montagnard community here in Greensboro (the lead farmhand in the CSA season is a gentleman Daniel met while teaching ESL). Or you might mention his baby boy, who is almost as fresh as the vegetables grown on the farm! Whatever you discuss, his passion for farming, his delight about belonging to the vibrant farming community here in NC is palpable and you’ll understand that he means it when he says that being at Goat Lady has been “one of the most incredible rides of his life!”

Favorite farm product:Enriched Soil
With seven types of soil on the farm and a perennial crop of rocks, Daniel is a true-believer in the value of good soil.

What you can find on the Goat Lady farm:
Spring: Green onions, lettuces, arugula, kale, chard, radishes, turnips, beets, chives, thyme, peas, broccoli, cauliflower

Summer: Garlic, onions, leeks, cabbage, carrots, turnips, beets, cucumbers, summer squash, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, okra, herb variety, beans, potatoes

Fall:Winter squash, salad greens, bok choy, chard, kale, collards, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, green beans, herbs, sweet potatoes, beets, turnips, carrots

Where to find them:

http://www.goatladycsa.com/

5527 NC Highway 22 N
Franklinville, NC 27248

Email: info@goatladydairy.com