Farm Profile: Brookfield Farm
When working with alternative economic models, it is imperative to adopt alternative and innovative ways to do business. At Brookfield Farm in South Amherst, MA, no agreement at all has proved to be the best agreement for managing the 30-odd-year-old biodynamic farm. In 1986, The Biodynamic Farmland Conservation Trust (BFCT) was established by Claire and […]
Farm Profile: Batalden Farms
In the wide-open midwestern states, especially in places like Lamberton, Minnesota, there is no danger of commercial development of farmland. Still, young agrarians like Ryan and Tiffany Batalden face the very real challenges of land access and land tenure. Ryan is a 5th generation farmer who now runs a successful 350-acre organic farm, but making […]
Farmer Profile: Brittany Cole Bush
My name is Brittany Cole Bush and Iʼm a 28 year old self-deemed modern day shepherdess– of animals, people and projects. I am the project manager of Star Creek Co. Land Stewards, a contract grazing outfit in the Bay Area of California where we use prescription grazing with sheep and goats as as land management […]
Farm Profile: Tom and Irene Frantzen and their 300 acre Organic Farm in Iowa
AMES, Iowa —Tom and Irene Frantzen’s desire to preserve their New Hampton land for generations to come led them to bequeath the 300-acre certified organic farm to Practical Farmers of Iowa. They announced the transition plan at the recent PFI conference in Ames. Their voices choking with emotion, the couple offered the details of their […]
Farm Profile: Burnt Rock Farm
When Justin Rich called Yankee Farm Credit to see about a loan for the $40,000 in improvements to one of his barns, he faced a complicated system not set up for small farmers. “They said they didn’t have a way to process such a small loan,” said Justin. “They’re set up for commodity loans. Real […]
Chicago ‘Cooperation Operation’ to Transform South Side Lot into Creative Farm-scape
The Cooperation Operation (Coop Op) is a diverse group of young social & food justice activists working to create a cooperatively run urban community garden in Chicago’s South Side Pullman neighborhood. A quarter of the homes in Pullman lay vacant. The abandonment is a result of riots in the 1960s and the spoils of an […]
Creating Social Capital – the Peacework Farm Story
First Published in The Natural Farmer Providing fresh, nutritious organic food for people is a deeply appreciated service. That appreciation can inspire them to reciprocate with unexpected generosity. At least, that has been our experience in establishing Peacework Farm. Our customers have helped us stick to our resolution to only buy what we could pay […]
Agrarian Ecology
From garynabhan.com One might wonder whether any 21st century preoccupation with agrarian values, agrarian ecology and agrarian ideals comes as too little, too late. Less than two percent of the North American public lives in rural areas outside towns, cities and suburbs, and less than half of the world’s population now lives outside cities. But […]
Farmer Profile: Byron Palmer
Byron Palmer Summary: Byron Palmer is a Grazing Specialist for the Sonoma Mountain Institute, a non-profit in Sonoma County, California. In that role, Byron uses the combination of regenerative grazing practices and proper stockmanship to do custom grazing for local ranchers, using their cattle to preserve and restore land at Sonoma Mountain Institute. He also […]
Farm Profile: Sheepscot General Store
Sheepscot General Store Summary: Ben Marcus and Taryn Hammer own and operate Sheepscot General Store at Unca’s Farm in Whitefield, Maine. The general store supplies staples as well as locally produced products, goods, and produce. They grow diverse vegetables and specialize in growing certified organic strawberries for sale at the store as well as a […]