water rights, a well, barn/storage/pack shed, tractor, pasture
By November of 2021, we will have a combined 5 years farming experience in responsible agricultural methods. Isabella is in the midst of her second season as a full time apprentice, and Gregg will have been worked 2 seasons as a paid employee, having completed a season as an apprentice in 2018. We are familiar with management that considers the farm as an organism, and have worked with mentors that stress on-farm fertility and regeneration. Both of us have experience at farmers market, and CSA packing/distribution. The use of draft power, namely the humble ox, is something that we have both dedicated energy and study to (both as teamsters and in management) as a viable option for a resilient, human-scale, "future primitive" agricultural landscape.
In conjunction with Gregg's current market gardening, there is a small propagation house attached to his home in which we have been nursing all of our own flower, veggie, and onion starts from seed.
We would like to establish a stable and resilient market garden capable of supporting a modest CSA program, farmers markets and perhaps some wholesale accounts with local restaurants. From the beginning, we want to prioritize creating a source for on-farm fertility to minimize purchased inputs of amendments.
This may be implemented in the form of a dairy herd of cows/goats/sheep, draft animals-in training, or a laying flock of chickens. We believe these decisions depend largely on the particular character of the land we choose. For example, some places may be suited to cattle, some will not. Concurrently, we want to establish pastured meat operation to provide cash flow, build soil fertility and supplement a robust, hearty CSA.
As systems are secured in these formative years, we would also like to prioritize work towards the perenniality and conservation of the whole farm ecosystem. This could include working with native plants in their due niches, establishing a food forest/orchard/silvopasture, stewarding bees, and feeding dialogues/partnerships with local First Nations peoples.
In the long term, we would like to have established teams of oxen that will compound our efforts towards self sourced fertility. We realize that we will never live in a vacuum of either market or community, and see ourselves prioritizing elements of education and community involvement wherever possible.
We will start simply, but over time it will be our goal to diversify as much as possible.
We would ideally live on the farm, however require minimal and modest accommodation. We are flexible!
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