Berm 1 Trees and Shrubs, September 2015

Most are doing well, a few have failed. Also in the mix are chives and daffodils, but exact locations not noted. At the moment it looks like another 19 trees and 13 shrubs to complete the berm next spring . . . Here’s the current listing, east to west. Shrubs in italics. [Planted 2015] Rhubarb Apple: Roxbury…

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Farm Finance and Resilience – Musharakah part 1

I keep hearing that “Access to Land” is a key challenge for folks who want to do well by the soil. That the high cost of farmland and the consolidation of farms into mega-operations over the last few decades make it really difficult for younger farmers especially, to get onto the land and employ practices…

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Berm Planting Progress

  So how’s the new berm doing? More fruit trees planted and mulched, thank you. The berm now sports a mix of apples, cherries, plums, pears and serviceberries. It’ll be fun to see what thrives. Here’s the current listing, west to east: [Planted 2015] Apple: Roxbury Russet Apple: Cox’s Pippin Cherry: Gisella Cherry: Gisella Pear:…

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Beautiful Farm Looking for a Farmer

The time has come to find a real farmer. In the four years since we bought this place I’ve had a great time cleaning up the mess and beginning to restore the soil and infrastructure. While I do hope to continue to be involved in the future, after this season (already under contract) I’d like…

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A Keyline Drive

With the help of some teen muscle, access to the woods and upper prairie is improving. A while back I posted about a natural access route along a contour line. We've been working to open up that pathway and here, for fun, are two video clips taken from Doris (the electric UTV) starting up in…

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A Permaculture Puzzle

Want to help with the farm design? Here’s a challenge for you. The field immediately west of the farmstead (the one that you see in the header photo) appears flat until you look closely. In fact, it’s a gentle valley channeling water north and then east – straight at the pole shed! That’s why I…

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The Golf Course

In a few weeks some friends will be getting married at the farm so I’m trying to spiff up the place for the occasion. The old tractor that I use for mowing is being a bit temperamental so I’ve used it and the trail mower and a regular four-cycle lawn mower to get the ‘lawn’…

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