Fresh, Local Food for the North Carolina Piedmont
Where to Find Us: On Saturdays during the main season you may find us at: The Greensboro Curb Market and the Durham Farmers Market. On Wednesday afternoon come and visit us at the Durham Farmers Market from 3:30 to 6:30 pm.
Root Down is a non-certified organic vegetable farm located in the headwaters of the South Hyco Creek watershed, 30 minutes northwest of Durham. The heart of farm production is a 10 acre open field which is surrounded by 24 acres of mixed deciduous and evergreen forest in the beautiful agricultural community of Cedar Grove, North Carolina.
At Root Down Farm we strive to grow food using methods that: improve soil health, encourage biological diversity in the whole farm ecosystem, and limit off-farm industrial inputs. We do not use: synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizer. We do use: compost, cover cropping for fertility management, crop rotation, mulch for weed control, and biological pest controls. We do follow the National Organic Program guidelines, though we have not yet paid for certification. Important aspects of these guidelines that we like to highlight include: always using organic seed when available, including for cover cropping, and never using treated or gmo seed. We start all of our annual vegetables ourselves in our greenhouse. We buy local and sustainable sourced products whenever possible for use in all aspects of the farm, from growing plants to building structures.
Long term vision: Our farm will begin with courses of annual vegetables. We will integrate in dried staples, such as wheat, dent corn, and beans, using a 1950’s pull behind combine to harvest and clean these larger plantings. Providing foundational nutrition for the community is integral to our vision. In time perennial fruits and nuts will ripen and we will, eventually, have a well rounded menu of fruits, vegetables, beans, and flours for your culinary enjoyment.
Root Down Farm 