The sun has just crested the Sapphire Mountains to the east, as I enjoy a cup of tea and the warmth of the radiating sunlight through the windows. Knowing it is -2F outside this morning only adds to my list of things to be thankful for this year.
Reflecting back on our third year on the farm at ABC acres, we, much like the thousands of plants & trees we have placed in the ground, have grown in many ways. The children are another year older, the staff is closer as a ‘working family’, and Sarah & myself are a step closer to realizing our goals of ‘life on the farm’. To recap a full year into the span of a few paragraphs will not do 2015 justice, but there are a handful of experiences that do stand out.
Our big project for the year was the 1500’ multi-rowed Fedge (Food-Hedge). Defining the edge between our personal zone 3 and the farm’s zone 4, we went about creating multiple rows of plantings with multiple purposes. On the interior zone 3 side, we planted dozens of varying berry plant species that would allow for seasonal grazing while taking strolls outside the home (pic: young Raspberry plants reach for the sunshine). Combined with a mix of seasonal pollinator species, complete with color and fragrance, the canvas to unfold on the interior side of the Fedge will be a site to behold. The outside zone 4 side has a focus on native wildlife. Specific plant varieties for grazing elk and deer, pollinators for bees, as well as thorny thickets for creating an impenetrable future hedge that will keep those large animal grazers to ‘their’ side all went into building out this side.
All the while preparing and planting the Fedge project, earthworks were ongoing for the creation of the epic Crater Garden Hugel Terrace Colossus. Working with the existing elevations of our lower pasture, we continued digging and removing rock material to create new farm roads. The resulting hole in the pasture became a place for seasonal ground water presence (pic: excavation ensues with creation of the SW terrace as water starts to fill the void). By working the surrounding banks and hill side, we built Hugel-Kultur terraces to harness the passing suns energy. Energy that will be stored for the creation of micro-climates and eventually an array of warm-loving plants that typically do not survive in the traditional hardiness zone 4. As winter sets in on the CG, we are presently designing some final touches to create an island for water fowl habitat, deeper water locations for year-round fish presence, and defining plant lists for some new varieties to be planted into the area come spring.
Our third year on the farm saw us really ramp up livestock management. Cattle, Goats, Pigs, Turkeys and Chickens (meat and egg birds) are a part of ABC acres all year long. Our newly acquired Scottish Highland cattle gave birth to a heifer in April, the Heritage Large Black pigs grew in size and number with birthing four litters, the Bourbon Red turkeys grew fat and graced our dinner table this Thanksgiving, the Chickens supplied us endless eggs and the Nubian goats produced enough milk to keep our fridge filled into early December. Our efforts culminated in Beef, Pork and Egg sales throughout the year to new customers, while we now currently look at new ways to offer even more products in the New Year.
The very foundation of ABC acres has been to create a food web for our own personal needs while raising our family on the farm, developing opportunity to provide excess food harvest to local community as an income generator, and utilize all we are learning and implementing as a means to demonstrate & educate folks to the fundamental design principles of Permaculture. In September, we took our first step to building a network of locally minded people interested in Permaculture by offering our monthly Permaculture Group Gatherings. In addition, we offered timely Farm Tours, and as a result have started to develop relationships… relationships that are fostering conversations about ways to be more efficient and regenerative in our daily approach to agriculture production. As we look to 2016, we are developing plans for workshops, Permablitz’s, PDC course work, Farm School, new Partnerships and much, much more.
Yes, 2015 has been a fantastic year, and for that I am grateful beyond words can truly document. As we enter the winter slumber, as much as one can slumber on a working farm, we look to the New Year with excited anticipation. We are already discussing new projects and ventures that will surely continue to develop ABC acres’ pursuits to be a standout in the Permaculture arena both locally and on a National scale for a long time to come.
With much gratitude,
Tim Southwell
