Straight to the Source | By Julie Farthing

Straight to the Source Trosly Farm: 2020 NC Small Farmers Award Winner By Julie Farthing

When you leave the pavement of Hwy 19 E in Avery County, just before the Tennessee line, and slowly meander up the road towards Trosly Farm, your car wheels crunch against the gravel driveway, kicking up just enough dust to slow down a bit and enjoy the scenery. That might include a large group of cackling hens under the watchful eye of Apollo, the farm’s great pyrenees and gallant protector. Ease up the road a bit, pass by some sassy pigs and piglets, a flower bed, and milk cows, and finally come to a stop at the white 1900s farmhouse with a porch that begs for an hour or two of restful rocking.

A real, small, farm, are the words Amos and Kaci Nidiffer use to describe their five acres of rural land they call home in the quiet community of Elk Park. The name “Trosly” derives from a little town in France which is the home of one of their heroes, Jean Vanier. Vanier is a proponent of belonging, celebration, and peace—all things the Nidiffer family strive to embody on the farm.

The newest addition to Trosly Farm is the freshly painted farmstand with shelves teeming with fresh produce, jams and jellies, candles, soaps, and even beard oil. Customers were already ordering products online, and picking them up (contact free, due to the 2020 COVID restrictions), so adding a farmstand was a win-win for both the Nidiffers and customers looking for fresh produce, meats, and breads.

“With the kids growing, not packing them up to go to the markets and staying on the farm works better for us,” says Amos of the new building with its own parking area just before you get to the farmhouse.

“We were mostly selling bread and vegetables at the markets, but with the stand we knew we could sell a lot more variety and offer our CSA members more variety as well,” added Amos.

The freezer holds meats, while seasonal produce and eggs are in the glass cooler and open shelves. Fresh bread baked in the farm kitchen is always a popular item and sells out quickly.

“We were baking mostly for the farmers’ market and that has evolved now to selling in the stand,” says Kaci of their popular whole wheat, sourdough, and rosemary breads. “We also have dry goods like granola and flour that we are using for our breads that are 100 percent organic from Linley Mills in Graham NC.”

Another big accomplishment that “cropped up” in 2020 for the Nidiffers was being awarded the NC Small Farmers of the Year. The Cooperative Extension at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University presented the award to the Nidiffers on September 30, 2020, during an online ceremony, and were presented with a plaque, monogrammed jackets and $1,500.

It is obvious why the Nidiffers were chosen for the award. They practice sustainability by using every bit of acreage, and utilizing their livestock to ensure the soil is the best quality for crops. “The goal is to work with the animals to improve the fertility and productivity of the farm,” says Amos. “I rotate the cows and chickens. The goats weed what the cows don’t graze and the chickens come in after the cows and fertilize the soil.”

Since its beginning, Trosly Farm has become synonymous with the farm-to-table movement through their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program. Each week, April through November, CSA members receive a basket of artisanal breads, farm-raised meat, seasonal fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

“CSA is a big part of where the vegetables have a home to go to,” says Amos. “CSA members who couldn’t commit to every week stop by the farmstand once or twice a month. They like being able to purchase items when they need them.”

Trosly Farm also sells produce to several sustainable supporting restaurants in Avery and Watauga Counties, such as the Beacon Butcher Bar, Grandfather Country Club, LP on Main, and Reid’s Cafe and Catering Company.

“You need some sort of agritourism to help support any actual farming activity, especially small farms,” says Amos. “The more diverse the better.”

“Every year we reevaluate what we are doing and what we need to change,” added Kaci. “We absolutely love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Visit www.troslyfarm.com for CSA information and farmstand hours.