SLIDESHOW: A farm for the future

On Wednesday, September 17, Rodale Institute staffers Jake Blehm, Amanda Kimble-Evans, Matt Ryan and Christine Ziegler, accompanied by Bill Heasom of Down to Earth Designs, traveled to Huntington, Vermont, to visit Teal Farm.  Teal Farm is a 1,300-acre farm, ecological preserve, and residence that is designed to demonstrate integrated use of regenerative agriculture and renewable energy systems capable to meet regional food and energy needs (www.tealfarm.com).  Our goal was to learn more about the renewable energy systems the Farm is using, and to participate with other interested Vermonters in a day-long discussion of ways that farming can survive, thrive and help improve the environment in the age of global climate change.  The experience was enlightening and energizing. Teal Farm's Energy Barn sits front and center below.

The facilities of the farm, particularly its artfully designed and artisan-built Farm House (in the background above), as well as the surrounding mountain were spectacularly beautiful. The conversation reached to many frontiers of sustainable, organic and permaculture farming practices to identify different practices that can help farmers move through these challenging climatic times, and hopefully help do their part to have positive environmental impacts.  Several participants took copious notes from the day, notes that we hope to transform into a document that can share these ideas with a broader audience.  We also hope to plan a meeting with the Vermont State House Agriculture Committee to discuss how some of these practices, such as organic no-till, keyline plowing and guild planting, may be included as part of future agricultural and environmental policy initiatives.