Dear Farm Community,
The CSA weeks are dwindling down!! We’re in the last few weeks here, but lucky for you they’re really good ones! This year’s CSA ends week 12 of the fall session, meaning last pickups are the week of November 16th (the week before Thanksgiving). Before the season’s end we’ll give you all the deets you need to know about what to expect for next year :-) So stay tuned and keep your eyes on your Monday inbox!
At the farm last week we got our strawberries in the ground ~ yippee!! We're VERY excited to have this big task accomplished. We'll be getting very up-close-and-personal with these plants from now until basically May... weeding, covering & uncovering with frost cloth (x1,000,000), checking plant health, looking out for pests and diseases, and generally tending to their every need like the sweet precious babies they are. So it's a real fall milestone to have them all tucked in and set up for success. Now we just have to keep them happy for the next six plus months!
We’re also starting our fall chrysanthemum harvests! We are SO stoked about these flowers. Every year our minds are blown by how gorgeous, versatile, colorful, elegant, and surprising the mums can be. Truly phenomenal flowers and a meaningful way to wrap up our floral year :-)
Flower CSA members will be seeing these in their bouquets for the rest of the year, and everybody can find them at our farmers markets!!
This week we’d love to share another Know Your Farmer. This is a big one folks ~ our fearless leader!!!! Please enjoy getting to know the person who started this whole wonderful fever dream of a farm, the person who keeps the whole machine well oiled, the Head Honcho, the Big Cheese, El Jefe, Carter!
What is your role on the farm?
I am the owner and founder of Diamond Hill Farm.
(editor’s note: Carter is being too humble!! His role on the farm is head mastermind and expert in everything - he orchestrates employees and activities on the farm, spearheads crop planning, orders every seed and tool and paper bag we need to keep things rolling, communicates with chefs, balances the farm budget, runs our meetings, maintains calm when we break a scuffle hoe... again, puts out fires of all kinds, jimmies open the truck doors when we lock the keys inside accidentally, rescues us when market vans break down on the highway, MacGyvers solutions to nearly everything, and passes down his sage farming wisdom to us every step of the way - no small task!)
Please share your farming journey!
I’ve been farming since 2012, starting on leased land prior to purchasing property in Madison county, eventually moving to where we are now. Before farming, my wife Shelley and I started gardening in five gallon buckets and shortly after had a 1000-sqft in-town in-ground garden on Ruth street. I loved spending the time outside and preparing meals with the food we grew. One day Shelley sent me a video advertisement for a “farm for rent” and I watched the video a couple dozen times before calling her to ask if we should go for it. I had no technical training or experience but was very drawn to the idea that we could have a farm. We left our Athens life that we loved and moved 45 minutes east to Lexington, GA to “go for it.” It’s been a long journey and now here we are!
Fun Facts about Carter!
I worked at and managed a music venue (the Melting Point) in Athens for 8 years prior to farming.
My high school aptitude test results said I should be a farmer. I grew up in Atlanta and did not have any formidable interest in farming at the time but the test creators must have been really good at their job!
What is something you’ve done on the farm that you are proud of?
I’m proud that we have grown a farm that can support so many people in so many different ways. We have awesome staff, customers, and farmer friendships.
What’s your favorite crop to grow?
Lately my favorite crop to grow has been celery!
What is your favorite crop to eat?
My favorite crop to eat is raw sugar snap peas.
What is a small thing on the farm that you are grateful for?
Laughter!
If you were something on the farm, what would you be and why?
I would be a bee - I want to be able to touch everything on the farm.
What do you think about when you’re harvesting?
Speed and consistency
What are your aspirations at the farm?
To provide a place that our farmers feel appreciated and proud of the work we do.
We’re all in the pack shed finishing up a big market harvest and you’re handed the AUX. What do you play?
Howdy, Fellow Traveler!
What is your favorite thing about Diamond Hill Farm?
My favorite thing about Diamond Hill Farm is the people that work here. I'm proud of everything that this group of talented people can accomplish to make this farm what it is. Even as the group of farmers change and people on the farm grow into different roles, the farm can adapt and continue to grow for our community in a meaningful way. We have a great team, and their support and dedication to Diamond Hill Farm is truly amazing.
(Bonus points to anybody who noticed the Carter/Snapping Turtle pic is the same as last week’s email. It deserves another opportunity to shine.)
If you want to get the full Know Your Farmer EXPERIENCE, head on over to our instagram page!
Broccoli in shares this week! Perhaps the mascot of all vegetables ~ always front and center on the food pyramid and healthy eating campaigns, broccoli might get a bad rap for being kind of…… eh. But mushy flavorless broccoli is SO passé. We live in 2026, baby! Broccoli is hot again! This Broccoli Spoon Salad from Bon Appetit recently rocked my world, or you could try out this equally delicious and very cozy Broccoli Cheddar Soup (vegan version available here). To use the sweet potatoes in your share, this recipe for baked sweet potatoes with chickpeas and broccoli pesto is incredibly cozy. You can always go the easy peasy super delish route, roasted and crispy. Enjoy your shares this week :)
Thanks for being a pal,
Diamond Hill Farmers
obscene abundance:
standard share: broccoli, sweet potatoes, scallions, baby lettuce, fairytale eggplant or okra
large share: broccoli, sweet potatoes, scallions, baby lettuce, fairytale eggplant or okra, carrots, cherry tomatoes