Nestled right here in these beautiful blue ridge mountains, Kat the Farmer is building something special on her quarter acre farm.
Two hoop houses and several rows adorn her small farm in Floyd County. From that plot of land, she grows a wide array of greens, vegetables and flowers that all compliment her “salad-centric” operation. For Kat, farming is about connection and the change that producing locally can bring: “Growing healthy, nutritious food for my community brings me so much joy and a deep sense of purpose.”
On Kat’s farm, each row contains a beautiful seasonal plant. Many rows of greens, edible flowers, and more stand tall on the farm. In the hoop houses, Kat grows and harvests tomatoes and cucumbers that end up going into her salad kits and being sold at market.
Certified Naturally Grown, Kat’s operation uses no chemicals and follows a careful set of practices to make sure every product she makes is the healthiest it can be. Her attention to the land contributes to its soil health and safely keeps insects from harming her crops.
Kat has been farming in Floyd since 2013 and before that was obsessed with gardening and growing since she was a teenager. For her, it’s about making healthy food accessible to our region, “Working to make fresh, local vegetables not just delicious but also easy to purchase and share with families.”
Kat is a regular at the Blacksburg Farmers Market on Saturdays and also delivers to homes and drop sites in Floyd, Roanoke, and the Blacksburg area on Tuesdays. You can learn more about her farm share program on her website, https://katthefarmer.com/
Our small farmers, like Kat, contribute so much to our local area and the health of our region. Producers like her make our community stronger and add so much to the whimsy and charm of Floyd. When you shop locally with Kat, you’re supporting all of Floyd!