Contrarian Farm

Brittany Kordick and Dan Shields

South Estes Farmers Market

Brittany and Dan at the South Estes Farmers' Market

Contrarian Farm, run by Brittany Kordick and Dan Shields, is entering its second year of production in rural Pittsboro, NC and is home to a small herd of Nubian dairy goats, a growing flock of egg-laying chickens, and American Chinchilla meat rabbits. Our farm name is derived from a stock market term that refers to someone going against the majority. We chose it to reflect some of our more unconventional practices and feelings about farming. Most basically, we strive to maintain sustainability in both our growing and economic practices. We also practice on-site slaughter and processing for our meat animals in keeping with our belief that it is better for the animal, the farmer, and ultimately, the consumer, who receives a meat product that we can personally ensure was humanely obtained and is of the highest quality. As contrarians, we are also working to become a true local food source that provides not only novelty or garnish vegetables, but also staple food items year-round that are not typically grown by small sustainable farms. To that end, this year we will be growing a large amount of dried beans, intended to be sold during the winter months. We will also raise onions, carrots, potatoes, and English peas (pre-shelled) in large quantity and experiment with long-term storage options for all of these.

During this year, we will also expand our much talked-of, but little-seen pastured meat rabbit operation. We suffered a lot of setbacks last year, mostly due to the necessity of experimentation since there is very little precedent for raising rabbits on pasture, but we feel confident of finally being able to supply rabbit on a regular basis by early summer.

By late spring/summer we also hope to have an online "marketplace" available for customers that will be our version of a CSA and will allow customers to choose the vegetables and quantity that go into their boxes; meat and eggs will also be available for order. All that will be required to participate is a minimum order of 8 items roughly equivalent to $25 every time an order is placed. However, customers will pay on a weekly basis and are not required to place an order every week. Stay tuned for more information on when the marketplace website is actually up and running.

As we begin our second year of production, we often reflect upon the fact that our unexpected success last year was due largely in part to the support of A Southern Season and the loyalty of our customers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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