Biodynamic Farming and Sustainable Business Practices

Who are we and what is a CSA?

Braeside Farm is a small, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. We have been involved in biodynamic farming our whole lives. Over the years we have raised a wide variety of livestock including cattle, buffalo, horses, bees, pigs, chickens, rabbits, sheep, and goats. We have raised an equal number of fruit and vegetable crops from A to Z. In 1998 we purchased our land in the West Cascades of the Willamette Valley. In 2001 we began to run our farm using a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) format, selling shares of farm goods to members.

What do we grow?

Below is a short list of the products we sell. We are always adding to our growing list. One of our aims is to push the limits of our hardiness zone by growing unusual and interesting items that are local but not common. This results in wonderful diversity and many failed experiments. We suggest you read our Prospectus on the Buy A Share page to determine for yourself if we grow the sort of food you like.

• Animals: The animals are busy with a variety of tasks. We have selected breeds to fill certain roles on the farm, some of which are conservation breeds and some of which are old standbys in the farming world. We raise chickens, cows, pigs, rabbits, and sheep. We have started a few catfish in our pond and hope to expand the aquatic arena in the next few years.
• Fruit: Every year we grow apples, blackberries, and strawberries. Depending on a number of variables, we also have luck with blueberries, calamodin oranges, cherries, grapes, plums, and quince.
• Herbs: Generally, herbs are provided in a small to medium volume for fresh use. However, quantities can vary and sometimes you may want to dry some of the herbs. We provide two types of herbs: those intended for seasoning and those intended as a main ingredient. Seasoning herbs are bay, lavender, lemon balm, cilantro, oregano, rosemary, sage, parsley, tarragon, and thyme. Main ingredient herbs are basil and bulb fennel.
• Honey: We love our bees and their first job is pollination. If they pollinate well and they look healthy, then we take some honey for the shares. This means some years there is little to no honey for our shares. Other years can be great honey years and members may get as much as 5+ lbs each during the summer and fall. As for flavor, our honey is wildflower honey and the flavors change throughout the season.
• Vegetables: Our main vegetable crop is salad mix and/or stir-fry greens mix. We have this crop year-round and it is reliable. We grow vegetables as a secondary crop to the main “mix” crop. This is different than many other CSA farms. In addition to mixes, we grow smaller quantities of the following: beets, carrots, garlic, kale, onions, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, rutabagas, shallots, summer squash, spinach, sunchokes, tomatillos, tomatoes, and turnips.