MONTICELLO - Regenerative farming - building healthier soils, water ways and ecosystems - will be highlighted during Farm Field Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 4 at Green Fire Farm, N5305 Ringhand Road, Monticello. It will provide first-hand insights into the details of incorporating and balancing multi-species grazing practices. Also featured will be a newly established field of fruit and nut trees that are actively being grazed by livestock - an uncommon practice called Silvopasture.
Jacob Marty and his father Jim started Green Fire Farm in 2015 on a 50-acre corn field. During the first year, they added grass-fed cattle, pigs and chickens, as well as 300 chestnuts, persimmons, pecans, redbuds and other trees to create a diverse ecosystem. Since then, they have added more than 3,000 diverse fruit and nut trees and shrubs as well as more livestock and a pollinator habitat. Such diversity is rare in modern agriculture, according to a news release, and is an important component to healing damaged soils, sequestering carbon and restoring healthy microbe populations.
The Marty men use agricultural and lifestyle practices that regenerate and build healthy soils, sequester carbon, and enhance the health of local water, air and nutrient cycles by mimicking patterns that occur in nature, the news release said. Livestock are managed in ways that mimic their natural history and behavior. Green Fire Farm serves Madison, Chicago and the surrounding areas.
Green Fire Farm grass-finished beef and local produce will be served for lunch for $5 per person. A registration fee is required. Register at https://savannainstitute1.wufoo.com/forms/green-fire-farm-field-day/.
Jacob Marty and his father Jim started Green Fire Farm in 2015 on a 50-acre corn field. During the first year, they added grass-fed cattle, pigs and chickens, as well as 300 chestnuts, persimmons, pecans, redbuds and other trees to create a diverse ecosystem. Since then, they have added more than 3,000 diverse fruit and nut trees and shrubs as well as more livestock and a pollinator habitat. Such diversity is rare in modern agriculture, according to a news release, and is an important component to healing damaged soils, sequestering carbon and restoring healthy microbe populations.
The Marty men use agricultural and lifestyle practices that regenerate and build healthy soils, sequester carbon, and enhance the health of local water, air and nutrient cycles by mimicking patterns that occur in nature, the news release said. Livestock are managed in ways that mimic their natural history and behavior. Green Fire Farm serves Madison, Chicago and the surrounding areas.
Green Fire Farm grass-finished beef and local produce will be served for lunch for $5 per person. A registration fee is required. Register at https://savannainstitute1.wufoo.com/forms/green-fire-farm-field-day/.