At Bella Vita Farm we know everyone is feeling the effects of COVID19 and how our collective lives have been changed. As your lives have changed so has the farms. Here are a few things we have done in the last few months to change how we are doing business and implement the safety protocols that the new normal has created.
- Implemented touchless payment systems for both the greenhouse produce and Sister Axe
- Began outdoor planting to increase our variety of food available to our customers
- Partnered with One Acre Farm to supplement their CSA
- Providing fresh Bella Vita Produce to the Pleasant Valley Produce stand in Laytonsville
- Increased egg production adding 50 hens to the Bella Vita flock
- Initiated home delivery days (click here for information) for fresh produce for various areas in the surrounding counties
- Purchased and installed numerous sanitation stations for use during events at the farm
- Initiated temperature checks for anyone attending an event on the farm
- Constructed additional axe targets to be physically distant from current targets
- Purchased new axes and assigned individual axes for each person to throw
- Redesigned and launched new website to improve user experience and ease of finding out information
That is only the start of the changes we have made to continue to be successful as a local business. All of the above have required significant investment on our part. We also know these times have been challenging for many of our customers. In regards to these difficult times we have done the following:
- Donated lettuce and greens to Manna
- Donated eggs to Community Food Rescue
- Allowed the use of our property for outdoor activities for small businesses which are struggling
What’s next at Bella Vita Farm? It is clear with this pandemic that healthy eating and maintaining social connections is critical for your immune system and your mental health. Outdoor activities have been shown to be the SAFEST way to get together.
To that end we are planning to expand activities at the farm to include:
- Expansion of the offering for Sister Axe. Check out the events here
- Increased use of the outdoor spaces for the farm for gatherings both large and small
- Overnight camping for those interested in getting out of your house and connect more with nature
- Opening for rental of our regulation bocce ball court for use during the week
- Wedding weekends in September and October for those looking for an economical way to ‘tie the knot’
