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OUR VISION: THE FUTURE OF REED'S FARM
Looking ahead, we aim to expand our regenerative farming practices, increase community engagement, and develop new programs that address emerging needs. Our vision is to create a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving community centered around Reed's Farm.
We envision a future where Reed's Farm serves as a model for regenerative agriculture. Our permaculture plan, developed in collaboration with Real Earth Design and Hundred Fruit Farm, outlines a five-year roadmap to transform the farm into a thriving ecosystem. Central to this vision is the creation of a food forest, which will provide fresh, nutrient-dense produce for the community while fostering biodiversity and enriching the soil. Additionally, the integration of silvopasture (a farming practice that integrates trees and grazing animals on the same land) will enhance our grazing systems, improve land health, and create a more resilient environment for our animals.
Our long-term plans include expanding our educational outreach, enhancing our facilities, and building new partnerships. By staying true to our core values and embracing innovation, we aim to make lasting contributions to environmental and social well-being.
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THE FOOD FOREST
The food forest at Reed’s Farm will be a transformative project designed to integrate perennial agriculture with ecological regeneration. This carefully planned system will include trees such as mulberry, raisin, little leaf linden, American persimmon, heartnut, black walnut, shellbark hickory, hican (a hickory/pecan cross), and shagbark hickory. These species were selected for their ability to produce nutritious food while supporting biodiversity and soil health. They will provide fresh, nutritious produce for our community, while the trees themselves will add shade and beauty to the landscape. Some will be used for medicinal purposes and to attract pollinators, further enriching the ecosystem. Once established, the food forest will mimic the natural layers of a forest, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that benefits the environment and
provides fresh produce for the community.
SILVOPASTURE
Silvopasture will play a central role in integrating livestock into our regenerative landscape. Through combining managed grazing with tree cultivation, this system will provide our animals with shade, shelter, and enriched pastures while improving soil health and fostering biodiversity. Rotational grazing practices will ensure that pastures remain healthy and productive, preventing overgrazing and promoting natural regeneration.
Expanding our sheep operation is a key component of this plan, with the animals helping to manage vegetation, fertilize the soil, and enhance the land's ecological balance. Silvopasture will allow us to create a more resilient farm system where livestock and the environment thrive together, exemplifying our commitment to
sustainable agriculture and innovation.
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ALLEY CROPPING AND ANNUALS
Our permaculture plan includes incorporating alley cropping practices to complement its design. Protective rows of trees will be planted in strategic formations to create microclimates and buffer the wind. Between these rows, annual crops will be cultivated, and we will make use of the enhanced soil fertility and moisture retention provided by the trees. This approach will allow us to blend the long-term benefits of perennial trees with the short-term productivity of annual crops, ensuring that the land remains productive over time. We will also continue to grow in our greenhouses year-round.
U-PICK BLUEBERRY FIELDS
We are planting 2 acres of U-Pick blueberries and building a nursery to propagate more blueberry plants. The blueberries that are being planted in 2025 will be ready to pick in just a few years. The variety we are planting is Duke, which is an early-season blueberry. Just like all the veggies and produce we grow at the farm, we will not be using any chemical fertilizers or pesticides on these plants.
To establish the blueberries, we have started with plants that are one year old, and planted them in rows that are short and easy to walk down. Every few rows of blueberries in this field there will be a row of mulberry trees. This will act as a trap crop for birds to eat instead of the blueberries. Mulberries are also delicious edible berries too, that will provide some shade and cover when out in the field harvesting! We will host U-Pick events in the future where you can come out and pick your own berries right here on the farm.
WILDFLOWER MEADOWS
Wildflower meadows provide so many benefits like providing beauty, attracting beneficial insects, providing habitat and food for birds, and so on. Meadows are also low-maintenance once established, and can significantly reduce overall mowing and maintenance needs on a site.
Wildflower meadows can be tricky - getting them started is the hardest part. Once installed, the maintenance of these meadows is very minimal.
Site preparation is the most time-consuming and difficult aspect of establishing a meadow. It is also the most important step, and therefore the one most important to get right and not cut any corners on. When starting with rough turf or lawn areas, it is absolutely essential to completely kill existing grasses and other perennial weeds before planting wildflowers. If left intact, these perennial grasses and weeds will be able to out-compete the tiny wildflower seedlings with their strong network of underground roots and rhizomes. They will win this battle 100% of the time.
On a farm scale, tilling and disking the field is the most effective way to eliminate perennial weeds. We mow everything down in late winter. Then, we till/plough the field to eliminate deep perennial weeds. We allow weed seeds to germinate and then use shallow cultivations (the top 2-3 inches of the soil) with a disk or other equipment to destroy weeds before they can set seed and repeat this every few weeks throughout the growing season. We will plant a nurse crop of oats in September and then seed the wildflower seeds into the oats in November after the first frost.