Noah Valley Farm

Simon Bevis of Noah Valley Farm welcomed me and Rashmi one chilly rainy morning in late January. He runs a small, diverse, Certified Naturally Grown farm on some acreage in Jacksonville, north of Anniston. Simon mainly grows seasonal and specialty produce but has recently begun growing Shiitake mushrooms. He market's his food locally, through a member-owned cooperative that runs a large CSA, as well as selling directly to restaurants and at farmers markets.

Simon's story - grew up here in Alabama, left for greener pastures after college, discovered the joys and possibilities of organic farming, came back home to start a sustainable farm to feed his community - is surprisingly common among farmers of his generation. It's something we'll be exploring more in the blog and in the film. Simon sold us some of his delicious Shiitakes, and he also hooked us up with a can of tomatoes he had put up for himself the year before. Check out some of the pictures below.

Rashmi and Simon survey the Shiitake logs

Simon's Shiitake system

A young mushroom

Noah Valley is "Certified Naturally Grown"