We Seed with intention and tend with care

Past the two raven barn, the farm sits on a southern facing gentle slope in front of the community farmhouse, just outside the kitchen and next to the milking barn. We revel in the dark soils abundant with earth worms, appreciate the wild roses and raspberries that offer medicine, and send our wishes off to the rainbows. With a gorgeous view of Pahto (Mt. Adams) to the north and the icy river of the Nikepun (White Salmon River) bordering half of the property towards the south, we are surrounded by oaks, firs, pines, and some wild apple trees.

With acknowledgment of the original people who tended this land for generations, we dedicate ourselves to stewardship in hopes of honoring the tribes of the local Yakama Nation, and of all indigenous peoples who have suffered through genocide and colonization, we strive to heal these deep wounds through our active work of preservation, restoration, and inclusion.

Giving praise to the air, soil, fire, water, sun, wind, and moon for providing life for all, we are grateful. We believe that in the tending of land, plants, animals, ourselves, and others with love, will foster opportunities of connection and healing. We utilize land techniques that enhance the agricultural ecosystem that we are honored to tend and live within. We acknowledge these practices are Indigenous knowledge from peoples all over the globe, and offer our service in recognition of the unjust actions of extraction. We are inspired by a variety of approaches from holistic management, natural farming and biodynamic practices, organic methods and rituals that influence our stewardship of the land, guiding us in regenerating the vitality of the soil and maintaining the health of our livestock. We propagate the microbial life of the soil by amending with natural supplements (ie kelp, cow, goat, and chicken manure), mulching with straw and clover, no-till methods, diverse cover cropping, perennial pollinating hedgerows, and succession planting — all to ensure the provision of food provided is rich with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and thus vibrant flavors and colors, while attracting positive pollination and practicing carbon sequestration.

YEAR ONE was laborious love … a few rows in the field behind the old barn were worked by a borrowed Broadfork (thanks Boradfork Farms), one old but heavy ho, and a rake that could have broken at any moment. We amended the worked beds with rich black gold compost from the aforementioned farm, while our little batch of chicks worked alongside us gently aerating the soil. We started our first section of beds with a brassica assortment: kales, collards, cabbages, broccolis, cauliflowers, romanesco, and nappa cabbage interplanted with onions, chard, bok choy, sunflowers and yarrow. Another few beds are filled with corn, beans, and squash. Each bed popped with sown clover and wheat from the straw mulch. All beds were sown with a Pacific North West wildflower mix attracting positive pollination.

YEAR TWO brought us a constellation of land-mates to continue holding and growing the farmstead. Holding a few community farm days we built a hoop greenhouse, planted twenty trees, 50 berries, herb hedgerows, rounds of brassicas / flowers, trays of seeds, and acres of cover and forage crop. As we continue to remediate the field, prepping the soil, and planting seeds, we will be holding community gathering days to continue weaving the dreams of the village.

YEAR THREE We strive to offer the community care shares of connection points, be that a walk in the garden, meeting an animal, having a cup of tea, sitting in the willow nest of the sun, nourishing and organic meals in farm gratitudes and circle gatherings, pizza nights and music gatherings, in addition to whatever abundance is overflowing be it dairy, vegetables, flowers, and herbs, seeds, teas, bulk pantry, value-added, and more… The Community Farmstead has been known as a peaceful place flowing with abundance. During the summers, we host Farm Fridays, inviting neighbors to join us for small gatherings around healing, nourishment, and land stewardship. We offer nature summer camps for youth and farm experiences, welcoming folks of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and cultural beliefs.

thE animalS will shepherd us

We admire the culture and knowledge of nomadic herders from all around the world, and believe that animal husbandry can be achieved in such a way that it can be a most efficient and ecologically beneficial form of agriculture. We tend our small herd and flocks on a daily basis, using low stress methods to ensure they always have fresh pasture, water, shelter, and mineral supplements.

After being greatly inspired by Ayurvedic texts enumerating the healthful benefits of fresh milk and dairy products, we realized that milk described as such can rarely be obtained from the store. Milk that is to heal the body must be from cows that were treated with individual care, who were free to eat grass under the sun and rest under the shade of the woods, and whose calves were allowed to nurse from them. The milk must be very fresh, clean, and unprocessed. Thus we set out to harvest such milk ourselves, do it in the very best way, and offer this medicine to other families beyond our own.

The precious Gir cattle, known as the sacred Zebu or Brahma cows of India, are famous for the medicinal properties of their milk. The milk from these Indicus (Asian) cows has therapeutic compounds which are not found in milk from any Taurus (European) cows. Our animals live in the natural elements, though our relationship shelters them from the threats of hunger or predation; we provide them with a variety of balanced pastures and feeds, and partner with our beloved livestock guardian dogs to protect them. With stress-free methods, each offspring enjoys family life within the small herd, constantly migrating across the landscape to restore the soils and produce foods that are vital, vibrant, and rich. With holistic management tools and seasonal planning, we are preserving and rehabilitating our wild lands which yearn for the diversity of life that was lost through extinction, colonization, and urbanization. In practicing our relationship with cattle, we can provide resistance to wildfire, maintain resilience in the face of climatic uncertainties, sustain the grassland ecosystem and perpetuate nature’s necessary cycles.

THE MILK WILL NOURISH US

Our herd calves seasonally, so milking begins every spring when calves are born. Waking up as the sun rises for milking time, we feed the cows sweet treats. The calves are always allowed to nurse before and after we milk the cow. The cow’s udder is always cleaned very thoroughly before capturing the milk in stainless steel canisters and transferring it to the processing room to be cooled and stored with utmost care. The milk is crafted to produce yogurt, butter, buttermilk, cream cheese, whey, and ice cream. We will soon be offering eggs from happy easter-egg laying hens. We eventually will offer baked breads and healthy energy treats.

“Thank you Caleb and Chelsey! You are helping me stay healthy by providing a great resource.”

- Love, Patty

The Village Apothecary

Believing in the medicine of the plants, guided by the spirits to practice care of self and others, inspired by the empowerment of access to this healing and offering mutual aid, we created a community apothecary.