Burkett Farm

What happened when fermentation revivalist Sandor Katz visited the farm this summer? Chile-garlic magic, for starters. Watch the whole video here: https://lnkd.in/d5CP2BHK

This Wednesday! Join us at the farm to hear from The Utopian Seed Project and experience an intimate okra-focused cooking demonstration with Dounou Cuisine! Register here: https://lnkd.in/eQ7ZbHJb

This year we've been growing Ultracross okra - an open-pollinated hybrid created by The Utopian Seed Project. It's the combination of more than 100 varietals of okra, selected specifically for adaptability and resiliency in the face of a changing climate. It's a fascinating project - you can read more here: https://lnkd.in/gtRjTR2i Learn more about it on August 14th - the USP's executive director, Chris Smith, will be at the Container Barn to share the story of Ultracross, and present updates about Ultracross 2.0! To put these okra pods to the test, Adé Carrena from Dounou Cuisine will be preparing some of the Ultracross okra from our garden, highlighting the variability within the harvest to the advantage of her creative expression (and our taste buds). Register here to join us! https://lnkd.in/eQ7ZbHJb

We've wrapped up our first chef capsule collection crop of the year! You can follow the story of agretti from seed to plate here: https://lnkd.in/eptPCCQr. At the heart of this program, which will continue with other crops and chefs throughout the year, is experimentation. The challenge of growing something new to us, something we otherwise wouldn't have tried, is an incredible conduit for learning new things about sustainable agriculture and cultural foodways. Our agretti growing journey culminated in the kitchen with Matt Kelly at @nanasrockwood, where we got a glimpse of his R&D process with this new-to-him ingredient (the results were truly delicious). Video: Vittles Films

Curious about what we're growing at Burkett Farm? Our Crop Map and Plant Index offer a snapshot. At any given time, the beds have a mix of annual food crops, annual cut flower crops, perennial herbs and plants (with an emphasis on natives that attract pollinators), and cover crops (or fields left fallow). In choosing what we grow and where we grow it, we’re balancing several priorities: maximizing yield (with first priority given to nutrient-dense food for donation to people experiencing food and nutrition insecurity); maximizing seasonal biodiversity; balancing soil health through crop rotation, cover cropping, and resting the soil; and providing educational opportunities and experimental undertakings. https://lnkd.in/ehQRuqBD

We're excited to welcome some farm friends to the Container Barn on June 11th for a conversation and cooking demo about sustainable grains!

While the majority of our farm is dedicated to growing nutrient-dense food that?serves the community, we also allocate some space for?trying new things.?This year, we partnered with four local chefs to grow capsule crops of an ingredient that has special significance to them. We're sharing the process and the outcomes here in a project we're calling the Chef's Capsule Collection: https://lnkd.in/ejCAXVCa Our first crop, a partnership with Matt Kelly of Nanas in Durham, is agretti, and it's just about ready to harvest. Never heard of it? Neither had we! Read about this unique and challenging Mediterranean shrub (also known as "land seaweed" and "monk's beard"), and follow along in the next few weeks to see what Matt does with the harvest. Here's a preview of what's to come: lemon basil with Lon Bounsanga of Saap, ultracross okra with Ashley Christensen of Poole's Diner, and honeypatch squash with Cheetie Kumar of Ajja.

Why green roofs? Manage stormwater: ? Counteract urban heat stress: ? Contribute to biodiversity: ? We talked with Kate Ancaya of Living Roofs, Inc. about the green roofs at our container barn, and how they can serve as a tool for building regional resilience and meeting the challenges of climate change. https://lnkd.in/eYZUqb9b

Looking to host a group outing with your team? Build connections while giving back to the community by hosting a corporate volunteer shift at Burkett Farm! We are welcoming groups of up to 20 people for Work and Learn experiences this spring. To inquire about scheduling, contact us: https://lnkd.in/dPMr9PFZ

It's almost time for our Open House and Plant Sale! Join us on Saturday, April 13th between 9am and 1pm - we have multiple varieties of tomato and pepper seedlings, herb seedlings, and pollinator-friendly flower seedlings ready for you to take home and plant in your home garden. All proceeds will be donated to Haven House Services. It's also the perfect time to take a tour of the farm and container barn, and we'll have our friends from Lutra Bakery hosting a pastry pop up with some incredible sticky buns! See you there! https://lnkd.in/eKJW8JJg