Sustainable

The term “sustainable” is most often thought of as the absence of pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers, but we consider all of the factors listed on this page as different layers that make up our definition of sustainability. We focus on creating a balanced farm ecosystem that promotes healthy plants and animals, while limiting our susceptibility to disease and pest pressure. That said, farming is inherently a practice of working with forces far outside of our control, like the climate! Extreme conditions often create environments favored by diseases and pests, so we sometimes support struggling plants with organically approved products while we ride out the heat waves and storms. We also make some of our own ferments as supplemental nutrition for our plants and animals. 

Biodynamic

Biodynamic agriculture is a holistic system of agriculture which views the farm as a self-contained organism. As such, we strive to create a closed-loop on the farm and minimize outside inputs. Each integral piece of the farm-- the soil, the plants, the animals, the water, the surrounding environment and the celestial influences-- work in harmony to support one another. We use the biodynamic calendar to help us organize our tasks in accordance with the greater atmospheric and cosmic conditions. We have found that biodynamic practices produce vibrant delicious food, while deepening our connection to the land.

Animal Husbandry

We provide all of our animals with fresh grass, water, and food daily. When we interact with the animals, we practice low stress animal handling. The goal is to communicate with our animals in a clam, confident manner which allows them to relax and trust. We have focused on breeds that are resilient and that succeed on pasture, and we continue to refine these breeds over time as we raise our own replacement stock. Our animals are an integral part of the farm ecosystem, providing fertility, pest management, and helping to improve this land. Their meat is a byproduct of their work that we are thankful to enjoy. 

Grassland Management 

We rotate the cows and the sheep to fresh pasture daily during the season of lush grass. By doing this, not only do we have better animal health, but we are witnessing the growth of more native perennial grasses, and hoping to create less erosion and to hold more water in our soils. By allowing the pastures to rest and for the plants to regrow and flower, we also provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. The chicken are rotated through the pastures and vegetable fields adding more fertility to them as well.

Water Conservation

We do our best to honor and respect water as the sacred, life-giving resource that it is. We are grateful to have several springs and ponds on the farm. We are precise with our measuring and know exactly how many acre-feet can be irrigated based on the water level of the pond, and we can respond quickly to adjust our crop plans if drought conditions are expected. Our crops are watered with drip irrigation, which, through some trial and error, we have learned is the most efficient and effective system for our soil.
To the Rain by Ursula K. Le Guin - a favorite poem to read at morning circle during the rainy season

Soil Health

Healthy, vital soil is the foundation for, well, everything. By nurturing and protecting our soil, we hope to be able to enjoy flavorful, enlivened produce and grassland for many years to come. So much growth has come from trying to understand our soil. It is nutrient-dense and rich, and that richness is the foundation of the delicious flavor it yields. We practice minimum tillage with the spader in the spring, and utilize cover crops in the winter. The heavy clay requires that we pay close attention, work it gently and get our timing just right. Learning how to work with our soil has been crucial to developing the deep listening skills at the core of all that we strive to do.

Diversity

While the ranch was already host to a wide range of birds and other wildlife before we arrived, we’ve aimed to increase the multitude of plant and animal life by planting hedgerows and trees, as well as increasing the range of species and crops that we raise. We also seek to increase the diversity of uses of this land and the humans who get to enjoy it, from kids’ camps to birthday parties, ceremonies, workshops and more!