What to do with the back 40

Bluestem Farm back 40

I mentioned in a previous post that we lease our back 40 to neighbors for conventional farming.  I've never been excited about the chemicals and bare ground, but we haven't yet decided what else to do there.  Besides, it currently provides the "seed" money for Katherine's college fund!  Check out the aerial view of our farm at this LINK.



In the running are a few (expensive) ideas.


1.  I've always dreamed of a prairie restoration here.  The cost of seed, and rented equipment to get it started is significant, not to mention the lost income.  The prairie could be grazed as part of my beef operation, but that would mean replacing 4,000 feet of decrepit, overgrown fence.  I'm looking into grants or assistance for this sort of work.  A partnership with KU or the Kansas Biological Survey might make for a good options, too.

2.  Scott's dream is to convert the land to organic grain production.  It takes seven years chemical-free to certify crop ground as organic.  (We're not likely to pay for the certification, but we'd still follow this guideline.)  Our lawn tractor is severely under-sized for a job like this, not to mention the many farm implements that it would take to plant, harvest, clean seed, and mill into flour.  That said, I think Scott's right about a market for local, organic flour.

Strip Cropping Photo credit

3.  Possibly the wisest use of the crop land would be some kind of strip cropping polyculture.  Grazing crops like grass and alfalfa could be grown in a mosaic with fruit and nut trees, grains, and veggies.  This too requires quite an investment, but may offer the best long-range return while still providing a diverse habitat for native wildlife.

Clearly I have some reading to do.  The neighbors have already fertilized and tilled the ground for next year's crop, so any major decisions will wait a year or two.  In the mean time, I think I'll beg back an acre for some experimental wheat and oat crops.  This will let us get our feet wet without disrupting our income.

Modern Homesteading

Photo credit

Most people engaging in a back-to-the-land lifestyle and trying to raise the majority of their own food call this process modern homesteading, but I'm afraid our 3-car garage disqualifies us from using the term for Bluestem Farm.  Still, if we had it to do over, we would have put less money in our house and more in fencing.  I think with a frugal lifestyle and a diversified portfolio (cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, veggies, fruit, bedding plants, Christmas trees, etc.) it is possible to make a living off of 80 acres even with our steep property taxes.  I'm sure our neighbors would find that laughable, but that hasn't stopped me yet.  Right now my farming endeavors don't even pay for themselves, but do provide us with high-quality organic meat, eggs, milk, and produce.  Though the land can support far more than we are doing with it now, my know-how can't.  By growing our farm slowly, I hope to minimize my serious mistakes.  Maybe in 10 years we'll make back our investments and start seeing that positive balance sheet.  In the mean time, I'm starting to see why all that organic food at the Merc costs so much!

Life on the farm

Bluestem Farm in summer

Here at Bluestem Farm we keep learning new skills to meet our goals of sustainability, land stewardship, humane husbandry, and food independence.  We read books and mine the minds of our farm neighbors for the knowledge that preceded Big Ag.  To this we add a dose of internet research and a load of try and see.  Not bad for a couple of town kids making a go of country living.  You're welcome to come along and experience the joys and mishaps of our life on the farm!