About Local Food

Qualla Berry Farm is part of a loose community of growers and marketers throughout western NC who are seeking to provide locally grown food to people who live and visit  the mountains. We are helping to develop ways to keep our rural land in agricultural production. We are listed in the Local Food Guide produced by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. For more about U-Pick farms, tailgate markets, and community supported agriculture growers, see their website: www.buyappalachian.org

WELCOME TO QUALLA BERRY FARM

Our 2019 Harvest Has Begun!

 New photos posted to our gallery as of October 11 2019!

Our plants have put on strong growth this year in hoop house beds, outdoor beds, and in containers. We are  beginning to  harvest a very abundant crop of Fresh Baby Ginger and Fresh Turmeric this October through December. We are now taking orders and the 2019 season is on!

New Harvest of Yellow Hawaiian Ginger and Hawaiian Red Turmeric October 2019

This fall, we will be selling potted starts (mostly turmeric, but also very limited amounts of ginger) in selected hours at the farm  and when folks pick up orders. We are getting more confident each year about turmeric's resilience and surprising cold hardiness. Turmeric planted in July or August can still be harvested in November all the way into January with protection. We are having success with keeping late started turmeric in the ground over winter with a cover of 6" of hay and row cover or plastic on top. The starts we planted last year and overwintered are now providing strong and early yields! The central "crown" of the turmeric can also be kept inside over the winter after the rhizomes are harvested and replanted in April and May.

Potted Black Turmeric. We also have Hawaiian Red, Indira Yellow, White Mango, and BKK Turmeric Plants.

Thanks to everyone who came to our 2019 spring classes on Growing and Using Turmeric and Ginger! We had a lot of fun doing them.

We are glad you have found us and hope you will browse over our turmeric and ginger growing adventures.  Learn to grow your own and use these spice plants in daily life for flavor and health!

We are two longtime organic gardeners/market farmers committed to growing turmeric and ginger. Our farm is small but mighty full of a diversity of plants. We are transitioning to doing more teaching and sharing of information of how to grow food, flowers, and spices, particularly the wonderful plant family of Zingiberaceae, which includes our favorites...turmeric, ginger, galangal, and Thai Tulips. 

Garden Gate at Qualla Berry Farm, by Jan Muir

 

For over a decade we offered organic upick raspberries to our local community. We love all berries. However, in September 2011, an invasive pest from Asia called Drosophila suzukii arrived at our farm and we could not successfully save our raspberry fruit. The plants and leaves still do fine and we have enough raspberries in early spring for our freezer before the fruit fly larvae ruin the berries completely. We almost quit farming after our raspberry loss.  Then, out of our demise, came the idea, support, and actions to learn about and grow turmeric first and then ginger.  What a beautiful path has evolved over time! So, here we are in the mountains of Western North Carolina growing a tropical perennial in both hoop houses and in regular farm beds. Its a journey we continue with appreciation and gratitude. We just never know what will happen next in farming.  Accepting challenges, enjoying nature, and sharing plants, products, fun, and knowledge while supporting organic agriculture and forestry remains our North Star.  Thank you to all our beloved supporters and helpers...without you we would not exist as a small organic farm.  We salute you and get back to the work of planting, educating, growing, harvesting, selling, and navigating the next chapter. 

Join our mailing list to receive updates as the season progresses and changes for news about farm open houses, market appearances, and other events. We will continue teaching and helping interested home growers and small farmers discover the magic of the plant family Zingiberaceae.

Cheers,

Karen and John