Green Horizon Farm
Elk Mound, WI
Mentor Farm
Agroforestry Systems:
Alley Cropping
Windbreak
Farm Information
Green Horizon is a regenerative nut and berry farm established in 2021. It is gradually transitioning the organic row crop land to organic nuts and berries. The first planting, in 2021, was 4.5 acres and included serviceberries, aronia berries, elderberries, currants, tart cherries, hazelnuts, chestnuts, and a few apple trees. The owners expanded on another 3.5 acres in spring 2023. The focus of the expansion will be black currants and aronia. Both fields include diverse groundcover that we primarily let stand during the growing season to benefit insects and ecology more generally. Both fields also include other diverse shrubs and crops to benefit ecology. We are working with the Savanna Institute and Propagate Ag on the design and implementation of the farm. Green Horizon was designed with agroforestry, permaculture, and holistic design methods. The property is adjacent to the land that my grandfather farmed since the 1930s. It’s a beautiful setting that is about one-third row crops, one-third forest, and one-third wetlands. There is a large 5-acre pond adjacent to the field.
Farm Information
Acres: 8
Established: 2001
Located: Elk Mound, WI
On-Farm Training Opportunities
Activities will take place on both the existing and new field. For the new field, we will likely start preparing the field in late April or early May. This will include intake, storage, and maintenance of plants as they arrive. We will measure, mark and till the rows. We will then lay rows of organic cardboard weed barrier with a customized tractor implement. Next, we will plant the rows using a water wheel planter, and the plants will receive a little TLC to ensure that they are all upright and in the ground properly.
Availability: Open
For both fields, we will be observing the plants and identifying pest and disease issues and general plant health, and then working together to determine the appropriate organic solution. For insects like Japanese beetles, this would include spot spraying with an organic solution. We might also determine that it would be useful to construct more bird houses on the property to control the insect population. Plant health issues may require increased use of drip irrigation or nutrient supplementation. The existing field also requires weed management in rows – though much of this is addressed by our wood chips in row. We use numerous methods to address weeds including vinegar spraying, fire and hand weeding. There will also be opportunities to mow the fields (although most of the groundcover is left to grow over the summer) and keep the grasses down under the electric deer fence.
Our 2021 plantings are starting to mature so we expect a significant crop in 2024. This will require hand harvesting, some minimal processing and collaboration on marketing opportunities at local farmers markets and to wholesale buyers.
We also welcome engagement on planning future expansion of the farm including crop selection, and management practices, including nutrient management.
Qualifications
- Interest in learning about organic management and fruit production
- Willing to do repetitive tasks at times, though work will vary throughout the season
- Able to lift and carry heavy loads and work in occasionally unpleasant weather
- Willing to work efficiently, take instruction, and learn on the job
- Preferred: Some farm or other agricultural work experience is preferred
- Excited to learn
- Able to work May to September (possibly some work in late April and early October). If available, there may be some time for pruning and taking cuttings in February and early March.
Benefits
- Pay: $15/hour; can discuss a different pay rate if housing is needed.
- Housing: Trainees can stay in the onsite house in one of two available bedrooms, with full bathroom available. Onsite housing requires at least 25-30 hours of work per week.
- Food: Meal planning to be determined with trainee, with the possibility of shared cooking duties.
- Remoteness: The farm is between the small towns of Elk Mound and Colfax, and 15 minutes away from larger cities, with stores and conveniences. 20 minutes from Minneapolis. Hoffman Hills state park is within biking distance, with many rivers and lakes nearby.
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