The Cliffs Organic Farm Reestablished
After taking over The Cliffs Organic Farm in 2011 during The Cliffs’ financial restructuring, owner Craig Weiner is excited to come home. Broken Oak Organics, as the farm has been known since then, is rejoining The Cliffs communities this fall and resuming its original name - The Cliffs Organic Farm. While some things change, however, some things remain the same – namely, the commitment to growing first-rate organic produce using sustainable farming methods.
The Cliffs Organic Farm specializes in growing varieties of fruits and vegetables, utilizing organic growing practices. Growing produce for superior flavor and disease resistance, the farm uses no GMOs, only works with natural pesticides and fertilizers, and utilizes careful crop rotation and companion planting to minimize outside inputs, like pesticides. Because of these practices, the farm has become a local favorite among residents and popular restaurants, like Soby’s, The Lazy Goat, Stella’s Bistro and The Nose Dive.
“We pride ourselves in offering some of the best produce in the Upstate,” says Weiner. “With our recommitment to The Cliffs, fans of Broken Oak Organic will still have access to the wholesome selection of seasonal produce, backed by a robust education and lifestyle program schedule.”
As part of The Cliffs, the Organic Farm will encourage a healthy lifestyle by growing fresh, organic, sustainable, nutritional foods; by educating people about natural and organic practices; by inspiring The Cliffs Culinary Team; and by reestablishing a special connection between people and the land. The Organic Farm plans to offer everything from rotating farm stands at The Cliffs’ seven properties to special member events, like Pick Your Own Blueberries and People to Farm Dinners Al Fresco, to educational classes on topics like container growing and Organic Growing 101. The farm will also work closely with the Culinary Team, involving them in seasonal produce selection and collaborating with them to create healthy lifestyle menus.
The five-acre Organic Farm will continue to serve the public and its local restaurant customers. Currently, the farm sets up a stand every Wednesday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. March through November. .
Weiner began working at The Cliffs Organic Farm in 2006, while he attended Clemson University to receive a Horticulture degree. After graduating in 2007, he moved into the Farm Manager position. Since taking over the farm in 2011, Weiner and his brother run the farm themselves, with the help of regular volunteers. In the future, Weiner would like to expand the farm to include livestock and fish, and to begin using Aquaponics to fertilize food. He plans on implementing an internship program with local schools, and to present the Organic Farm as a model farm for young aspiring farmers.
About The Cliffs
The Cliffs is a collection of seven premier private, luxury residential mountain and lake communities located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the western Carolinas, between two of the nation’s top award-winning cities for quality of life - Greenville, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina. The Cliffs’ suite of amenities for members includes seven clubs, five wellness centers, 21 restaurant and private event venues, seven championship golf courses, marinas, beach club, cycling, paddle sports, tennis complexes, equestrian center, hiking trails, wakeboarding, wine clubs, an organic farm and more than 1,000 year-round social activities to create timeless experiences. Homes at The Cliffs range in price from $500,000 to $4 million+; homesites, from $100,000. For more information about The Cliffs, visit CliffsLiving.com or call 866-411-5771.
