Since the beginning of Heartland Farm, the land has been managed organically. The Farm’s gardens have been central to our sustainable living. The gardens provide wholesome food for us and our guests as well as produce that is offered at our local farmers’ markets. We currently manage four gardens, including a high tunnel, and we are dedicated to continuing to expand our network of garden clientele and impact our local food systems.
While sustainable agriculture is sometimes defined by what is not used – chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides – it is much more than that. Agriculture always relies on soil – and all the intricate life systems within it – for its foundational health and productivity. By building soils with compost, growing cover crops and incorporating other complementary techniques, sustainable agriculture develops and retains the soil’s sustainable capacity. In so doing, the crops produced promote the vitality and health of those who consume them and continue to benefit the land and all the interconnected ecosystems within which they flourish.
As a regular part of our tours and programming we offer volunteers hands-on opportunities to learn about sustainable gardening.
Watch our Heartland Farm slideshow and truly feel the essence of the farm.