Curious about growing your own berries or balancing farming with a full-time job? Join us for an evening at Berry Simple Farm to learn, connect, and get inspired.

Rick Crofford—owner of Berry Simple Farm and VDOT Environmental Manager—shares his approach to keeping farming simple, focused, and high-quality. From thriving rhubarb and strawberry crops to practical pest and disease management, you’ll walk away with tips you can actually use.

We’re also hoping to welcome a Small Fruit Extension Specialist from Virginia Tech for added insight.

Topics include:

• Embracing the part-time farming lifestyle

• Growing successful rhubarb & strawberry crops

• Integrating smart pest management practices

🌦️ Rain or shine unless there are thunderstorms in the area.

Come out, ask questions, and see what “keeping it simple” really looks like on the farm.

For our planning purposes, please register for below. Thanks!

Join us for a special event celebrating Virginia native plants!

Wendy Dorsey of Yellow House Natives (Berryville, VA) will give a talk at 1:00 PM, followed by a plant sale from 1:30–3:00 PM.

The sale will feature $5 deep-rooted plug plants, all native to Virginia. These plugs have strong root systems that establish quickly and require less watering—making them a great choice for home gardeners.

🌱 Plants that we will be offering: Alumroot ‘Autumn Bride’, Blue Mistflower, Blue Wood Aster, Blue-eyed Grass ‘Lucerne’, Butterfly Weed, Calico Aster ‘Lady in Black’, Cardinal Flower, Hyssop-leaf Thoroughwort, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Moss Phlox ‘Emerald Blue’, Moss Phlox ‘Redwings’, Narrow-leaf Mountain Mint, New England Aster, Oak Sedge, Short-toothed Mountain Mint, Sneezeweed, Swamp Milkweed, Swamp Sunflower, Switchgrass ‘Shenandoah’, Virginia Anemone, White Wood Aster, Wild Columbine, Wild Quinine, Woodland Stonecrop

If you would like to pre-order any of these plants, please click the link below to launch order form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYwXcRP9JnxpX5uWoRgibZBAljH60qNFH7aAIcFGIvA0PGHg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=108513737297867226663

Registration to the event is requested for planning purposes. Please use form below.

We hope to see you there!

Jason Loris, an Amissville resident, holds 2 Guinness World Records and 12 Virginia state records for growing giant vegetables. His PowerPoint/lecture will teach participants how to grow vigorous sunflowers from seedling to towering bloom. He will cover:

• Which giant sunflower varieties perform best and the environmental conditions they require

• Soil, fertilizer, and watering techniques that support exceptional growth

• Tips and troubleshooting for pests, weather challenges, and common growing issues

Following the presentation, attendees will take part in a hands-on planting session. Each participant will plant mammoth sunflower seeds using Jason’s own award-winning methods, gaining practical experience they can take home to their own gardens.

This workshop is ideal for families, youth gardeners, or anyone curious about growing impressive, larger-than-life sunflowers. Materials will be provided. Children MUST be accompanied by an adult.

Seating is limited inside the schoolhouse therefore participants may need to stand during the presentation or bring a lawn chair if the presentation is outside. The talk and workshop is FREE and starts at 1 pm, and lasts about one hour.

Parking is limited at #18 Schoolhouse. Participants are encouraged to park at Northern Fauquier Community Park and walk to the Schoolhouse. Please do not park along John Marshall Highway or Whiting Road.

Registration is required to ensure that we have enough kits for everyone. Fill out form here: