by Ed Williams
It’s like taking a nostalgic step back in time when visiting the history-steeped 180-acre Thornbury Farm just outside of West Chester. Back when local farms were the main and sometimes only source of putting wholesome, nutritious and truly organic food on our tables. Back when a large basket of fresh-picked corn on the cob would be hastily chomped during summer family picnics, barbecues or Sunday-evening dinners surrounded with the laughter and conversations of family and friends.
According to owner Randell H. Spackman, “That homespun business philosophy is what makes a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) organization work so well today. By making a financial commitment to the farm, members create a true working relationship with the farm and receive timed baskets of lettuces, tomatoes, cantaloupes, carrots, beans, corn, local honey, relishes, herbs and free-range eggs from late May well into fall.”
Susie Spackman, office manager (and Randell’s mother), agreed. “It’s about caring what goes into the community. Customers want the real deal. Folks today are smart about food,” she stated. “People want variety, freshness, quality and organically grown produce, and they insist on knowing where it comes from. We provide that here. We’re all family in this beautiful community!”
Little can compare with the use of fresh herbs and edible flowers to spruce up salads, entrees and even seasonal cocktail recipes. Thornbury’s recently expanded herbaceous gardens will include bushes of fresh rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage and mint. Also on the farm, tiny temperature-controlled greenhouses currently cradle delicate seedlings of nasturtium and cosmos, “which are both edible and can also be used as garnishes,” said Jack Muhs, CSA Manager. “We have plans for a local herbalist to conduct classes on the medicinal properties of these plants as well later this season.”
A spectacular visit to Thornbury Farm includes the homespun all-American feel of the quaint, well-stocked general store, a meticulously constructed outdoor bread/pizza oven, a picnic-tabled patio and uber-friendly animals including Daisy the donkey, Luna the goat and Fiona and Duncan the pigs.
Goals of Thornbury’s CSA program include satisfying CSA members, supplying produce to local restaurants and churches, providing hands-on educational classes and lectures to customers and local schools and giving the community a way of understanding how farms work. All of this is done while relaying gardening and cooking information.
Take a step back in time. Discover how you can be a valuable growing piece of today’s organic community. Check out Thornbury’s website for membership info, classes, agricultural and historic events and new summer hours.
Find Thornbury CSA at 1256 Thornbury Rd. in West Chester; phone: (610) 793-2933.
Vegetable and herb photo credit: Thornbury CSA, remaining photo credit: Ed Williams
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