The USA Regenerative Agricultural Alliance Farm Campus

Part II: Spring and Beyond

Spring 2022 and forward
This is truly has been the introduction year, and everything is an experiment! The spotlight is going to be on heirloom tomatoes, and this year we’re doing three varieties. Plants will be planted in the high tunnel, in soil bags, and string-guided upward. The same three varieties will be planted in the in-ground garden and the raised beds, to give us a comparison on which did the best.

The year saw three Farm Managers take the helm, and by the time things got growing, we were in the steady hands of Drew Wilson, our third, and current manager. He had the unique challenge of managing, and learning as he went.

The learning curve in balancing temperature, air-flow, moisture, in the controlled environments, is already front and center. Dealing with any kind of completely enclosed environment, requires a lot of hands-on, and close monitoring. Stay tuned!

A pollinator garden, to feed hungry bees, was started behind the high tunnel, along with a pumpkin and squash patch. The pollinator garden has been doubled, for next year.

A number of the recycled raised beds have been set along the entrance fence, and filled with manure and soil. They will be the WELCOME area for the Farm Campus. Each box will be filled with iris, daylilies, and other bulbs. To that will be added various groundcovers, and pollinators. Not only will it benefit our bees, it’ll also bring a smile to your face!

Current and future plans
Another high tunnel is planned. It’ll be constructed of a double wall, of plastic. A heated fan will blow air between the layers constantly, in hopes of keeping the interior warm enough to extend the growing season.

There will be a lot of different veggies grown in the available areas. What does one do with all that produce? Our hope is that we can sell to the public, vegetables that are clean-grown, full of flavor and nutrition, as well as continue to donate to our local food bank.

Beyond that the Israels are hoping to be able to preserve produce and sell to the public, thus generating a revenue stream that will help support the non-profit.

End-of season report
We made it through! Our part-time helpers, along with their manager, did a great job of dealing with issues, while they learned to be gardeners.

The heirloom tomatoes, for the most part, were a disappointment, due to viruses, but we still harvested more than enough to share. The peppers and squash did fantastic, and were enjoyed by many. We aren’t certified to sell off the Farm Campus yet, but we did have several people who picked, and made generous donations. The excess produce was donated to our local food bank.

Another in-ground garden is in the process of growing a healthy microbial community, to plant into next spring. Cold crops have been planted in all the available locations, for a wintertime crop experiment. A multi-species cover crop is flourishing on the 1st in-ground garden, in hopes of making that soil healthier, for next year.

Plans are in the works still, for the mushroom trailer, an orchard, and the newest project underway, is to build chicken tractors, and run chickens and turkeys, next year.

 You’re welcome!
Come and see what we’re doing! We love for people to plan a tour of the Farm Campus, and maybe become a part of our non-profit. Our hope is to have a hands-on program, with interactive teaching, for all ages. The Farm Campus ideally will be a place to share ideas and interact, to learn from each other, and to be able to pick and sample delicious, and nutritious, produce. Give us a call and schedule a visit!

Sherrie Ottinger, The Tennessee Dirtgirl