Putting Small Acreage to Work Conference January 28, 2012

By: Chris and Jeffie Hardin

Background Information Our Model for a Profitable Small Farm How We Got Started Planning and Doing Community Gardens and Growing Organic Fundamentals of Building Healthy Organic Soils
Hands-on exercises and questions

Basics of Business on Small Acreage Fundamentals of Livestock and Poultry Renewable and Solar Energy on Small Farms

Chris and Jeffie Hardin: Parttime sustainable farmers. Full time Engineer & Teacher We have four children:
Rebekah, 21 Joseph, 18 Sarah, 17 Benjamin, 14.

We are first generation farmers. WHY did we started farming?? It all started with a antique tractor. Now -- 40+ animals/birds, CSA gardens, hydroponics and small agribusiness training seminars

Different People See Different Reasons for Change

Improved Health Preparing Our Children Food Security

Hopefilled Reasons and a Support Team will Last

NEGATIVE REASONS WONT LAST.

Family Closeness

Our Model for a Small Profitable Farm

A Few Features: 1. Developing modules for self supporting farm and healthy food community. CSA gardens and grass-fed beef. A hands-on training farm for friends and family. Horses animal handling, responsibility and the main source of organic fertilizer.

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Agribusiness and hydroponic lettuce in greenhouses.

Local well water for enhanced minerals and nutrients in the crops. Solar power integrated into rotational grazing of livestock. Chickens for egg production, natural organic compost and pest control.

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There are many different small farm models that will work.

Jeffie and the boys had significant health issues. Thyroid and ear infections. Looking for a lifestyle that would make us healthy and ground us. Sold our successful engineering business in 2000, and bought an 8 acre farm surrounded by 14 acres of conservation land. We looked at MANY places in a three-county area. The Have-More Plan: A Little Land A Lot of Living, By Ed & Carolyn Robinson

It was a Slow incremental change of habits A 3 year plan of mostely peaceful change It took12 years for our family to make a complete transition! Year One The Foundation of Healthy Food Year Two Growing the Habit of a Healthy Lifestyle Year Three Creating a Community of Healthy Living Years Three to Present Still making changes and working to maintain healthy habits with a busy outside work schedule and kids going to college.

Large gardens, no garden boxes or raised beds until 2009. Raised beds made it easier to control weeds and pests, and assign responsibility to our community supported agriculture (CSA) friends. Chickens eggs and meat (2002), Goats for milk (2002), Grass fed beef (2004), Turkeys (2006). Rabbits (2004 to 2005). Horses for pleasure and organic manure (2004) Unheated Greenhouse (2004). The Four Season Harvest, By Elliott Coleman. Solar panels (2010), and Bees (2010). CSA Garden (2009), Heated Greenhouse & Hydroponics (2011). Country Girls and Boys Living Camps

Small Community Gardens & Growing Organic

Utilize a Working CSA Model Phased growth. Families or classes are assigned garden boxes to promote individual responsibility. All food is shared to promote community building. Garden box construction can also be part of a STEM and farm skill We are NOT Certified Organic!! education experience.

Small CSA Gardens & Growing Organic

Teach farming and STEM skills with local school teachers. Curriculum is being developed as we grow. Follow the NC Ag Ext and Rivendell Farm guidelines. Training in the basics of organic soil processing and healthy, local food. Teachers, students and parents learn and teach together.

Farm & STEM Skills: Science pH, plant & soil health. Tech drip irrigation, tiller O&M. Eng box layout, piping, composting. Math planning, layout, genetics, and chemistry support. Age appropriate activities from 3rd to 8th grade.

..an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.
Source: National Organic Standards Board

Human health tied to the health of the environment water and soil A healthy soil is the foundation of healthy food Feed the soil to feed the plant

 Organic farming generally falls within the accepted definition of sustainable agriculture. However, it is important to distinguish between the two, since organic products can be (unsustainably) produced on large industrial farms, and farms that are not certified organic can produce food using methods that will sustain the farm's productivity for generations.
Source: Sustainable Table Serving Up Healthy Food Choices

http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/organic/#difference

Mimic nature, improve nutrient cycling, disease control and nutrient uptake by plants
Integrating crops and livestock manure management

Biodiversity

Diversification and Integration

Low Till Practices and Regular Crop Rotation Sustainability

Reduce off-farm inputs Enhance soil resource

Promote Natural Plant Nutrition

Natural Plant Nutrition

Natural Pest Management

Manage plant nutrients by managing soil organic content, healthy soil organisms, and pH. Build the soil, slowly over time. Bad Insect (Pests) are typically an indicator of how far a system has strayed from the healthy ecosystem it seeks to imitate. When the soil is sick and the water balance is off the plants are more vulnerable to attack by Pests. Natural predators of Pests tend to be prevalent when the soils are healthy. Protecting organic soils and additives from contamination. Minimizing commingling with non-organic pesticides and fertilizers.

Integrity

Start with knowing and then adjusting the soil and organic material pH. Most clays have a low pH 4.5 to 6.5. As the pH is raised close to neutral at 7, the clay is less plastic and able to be broken up. This allows the introduction of organic material. In healthy soils the organic content is 7 to 15 percent of the volume/weight of the soil matrix. The organic material in soil is the main place where the healthy microbes live and where its easy for plant roots to obtain nutrients/minerals.

Measuring soil pH Field check of pH and clay content by rolling threads Observing signs of healthy soils and/or unhealthy soils Clay soils can have a high nutrient content, but its harder for the plants to get to the nutrients. Conditions that lower soil pH:
Certain types of leaves pine straw and oak leaves Poor drainage or cycling drainage can wash out organic content and lime, thereby dropping the pH.

How to use lime and gypsum properly with compost, organic matter and livestock or green manure to naturally raise the pH.

Biodiversity of plants helps to trick the bugs. Give them something else to eat. Healthy plants (good soil and proper watering) are typically less susceptible to attack by insects. Destroying insect eggs and stopping the reproduction process is the best way to combat bad insects. Open, deep and freshly tilled soil is the best way to attract insects and weed seeds. Keep unplanted soils covered with a green manure crop or thick mulch.

Guinea hens and some types of chickens are natural insect predators that will not destroy the plants.but, watch out for foxes & raccoons! Diatomaceous earth on the plants and soils near the roots kills most soft bodied insects. Ex. Stink bugs, cucumber beetles. Hot pepper spray as a repellant for miscellaneous bad bugs. Lady bugs for aphids. Pyola spray caterpillers, Japanese beetles, etc. Neem oil an all around insect repellent.

Keep the unplanted soils covered with a green manure cover crop or mulch. Use tight row spacing and compost to minimize open areas. Shallow till and mulch as-needed. Regular weed pulling and shallow cultivation. Getting to the weed plants before they go to seed. Raised beds and/or loose, healthy soils tend to promote healthy plant growth and minimize rooting of weeds.

A balanced system of crop rotation, and the regular addition of green/animal manure, and composted organic matter will build and sustain healthy organic soils. The Big Three nutrients Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) are important, but not the only nutrients/minerals needed for healthy plant growth. Chemical intensive farming/gardening with industrial grade N, P, and K fertilizer tends to degrade soil over time. Synthetic fertilizer increases yields short term, but this approach is frequently not sustainable.

Feed the soil, not just the plant Continual decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms, bacteria, and fungi naturally releases humis and nutrients/minerals to the plant roots. Space for air and water is created by the addition of organic material into a pH adjusted/neutral soil matrix. The interaction of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, magnesium and potassium with the plant roots is facilitated by microbial activity in the soil matrix. Microbe activity is essential for healthy plants. Balanced nutrient content, pH and healthy organic matter is essential for healthy plants.

All of our profitable farm business ventures started as small initiatives with less than $3,500 of capital investment for each new business. Principles:
Infrastructure constructed by Farmer Chris with help from Jeffie and our children. We got input from other successful farmers first. We read books, but used our common sense. We developed markets from things we liked to eat and/or needed on the farm. Ex. Grass-fed beef, chickens/eggs, bread making classes, hydroponic lettuce, etc. Diversification is key even on a small farm.

Financial Aspects:
We decided to support our farming lifestyle with a full time career off the farm. Very common, less pressure. We did not borrow money until we had 5 years experience as very small, but profitable farmers. $5K to $7K per year. In 2009 we decided to borrow $50,000 to install a PV solar system in our pastures, and really develop and grow our hydroponic lettuce and greenhouse business. Our market was developed through word of mouth, friends at church and internet distribution networks. We invest in regular branding/labels now, and have a marketing plan. We have signed contracts that indemnify us when dealing with new clients and new farm friends.

Sustainable Practices:
Made use of extensive resources in North Carolina through the extension agencies and the NC Farm Stewardship Association. Minimized the use of pesticides and industrial grade fertilizer. Encourage new people to come and see the way we raise our crops and livestock to develop clients who trust us. We train our clients before we sell. We are insured using incidental farm insurance instead of a full blown farm policy. Will upgrade this year to account for selling at farmers markets.

Recent Expansions
Teaching STEM & farm skills to local elementary and middle school teachers & students. Hydroponic systems are a natural classroom for biology, chemistry, and engineering. Produces healthy vegetables, year round with 1/10 the water. Key point: We have a unique water source with balanced/natural nutrients.

Catawba River District

K-20 Learning World and Regional Vision November 30, 2011 Presentation to: Whitewater Academy and Middle School Teachers http://catawbariverdistrict.org/

Chickens & Livestock

Phase IA installed fences on 5 acres of grazing pastures. Phase IB designed and installed our first 20 by 20 chicken coop. Purchased the initial 3 cows and 2 goats. Currently selling cows for local Huntersville farmers. Eggs are an important side business for our CSA friends.

Healthy Protein Chicken & Livestock

Teach Small Farm and STEM Skills with local teachers. Explain the difference between organic, sustainable and industrial agriculture. Basics of animal and human health provide a school for budding nurses and doctors.

Healthy Protein Chicken & Livestock

We are a registered Beef Handler and Farm Kitchen with the NC Department of Agriculture. We purchase feeder cows from Huntersville farmers, and sell grass-fed beef to up to 40 people each year. Maintain high quality standards, but are not certified organic. Our chicken and eggs are free-range and provide a benefit to our CSA farmers and friends. Regular chores by our children and selling local allows us to pay for all feed and earn 20 % profit.

Renewable & Solar Energy on Small Farms

$50,000 initial investment 35 % NC tax deduction 30 % Fed tax deduction Produces approximately 75 % of our power Selling all electricity to Duke and RECs to NC Greenpower. System will pay for itself within 5 years. As electric power prices increase the value of our system and electricity/RECs increase at same rate. Solar on farmland can allow an addl 30 % from USDA.

Thank You and Questions?

Chris and Jeffie Hardin Huntersville, NC 28078 www.rivendellfarmsnc.com Email: www.hard9377@bellsouth.net