By Jade Greene
What do black locust trees, babydoll sheep, and josta berries have in common? Not only are they uncommon agricultural products but they can all be found at Hundred Fruit Farm. In early July, over 55 participants from young children to retirees were treated to a farm tour at Hundred Fruit Farm in Buckingham to learn about their unique growing practices and farm outputs. Come on a virtual re-cap of the farm tour!
Adam Explains it All
After a delicious potluck of local salads, baked goods, and more – Farmer Adam kicked off the farm tour, surrounded by a buzzing pollinator and herb garden. He explained that 10 years ago, he and his wife Sunghee started the farm. They wanted to create an “agro eco system” providing space for native animals and plants while still growing food for the human community.
The farm is a dance between what works on the land and what doesn’t. They do not use chemical inputs (no herbicides, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers), so “if it needs chemicals, we aren’t going to grow it,” explains Adam. They are constantly evaluating how the farm is working and deciding what to grow (Asian persimmons are very productive, easy, and beautiful) and what to do away with (peaches and apples aren’t worth it).
The farm grows berries, fruits, and has a long term plan to include nut production as well (the trees are planted, they just take a decade before they produce). The farm is open to the public to pick-your-own berries (like currants, raspberry, blueberry, elderberry, aronia). They also have memberships which provide discounts on farm products. They raise and sell babydoll sheep, pasture-raise egg-laying chickens, and have a plant nursery (more on all that soon!)
In addition to the farm products, they teach permaculture courses to community members, creating a local permaculture hub. Adam also provides permaculture design services to businesses, farms, and homeowners.
Stop #1: The Nursery with Farmer Sunghee
The first official stop on the tour was to the nursery. Many of the plants that the farm produces are also available for sale in their nursery! Some plants for sale include berries like josta or elderberry, trees and herbs. They are all grown on and potted up on the farm. All plants in the nursery are “either native, edible, or both!” They serve multiple purposes in a garden.
Farmer Sunghee shared her story and passion for local food and connecting with the land with the attendees. She had juggled multiple part time jobs plus the farm and now is mostly full time working on the farm. Sunghee and BCFA will be hosting a Kimchi Variations with Turnip & Daikon workshop on November 12!
Stop #2: Rain Water Garden
What do you do with that wet spot in your yard? Hundred Fruit Farm had such a place so they installed a “Rain Water Garden” (and you can too!). Planted with water loving plants with deep roots, the goal of a rain garden is to absorb runoff from impervious surfaces and let the water move “slow, sink, and spread” instead of gushing into a local creek and/or causing flooding issues.
Stop #3: Berry Patch
The names of berries I had never heard before filled my ears: josta, aronia as well as known berries like currants, mulberry, blueberry, raspberry. Hundred Fruit Farm has them all! They have pick your own fields open for the public to enjoy, plus a membership where members get a discount and special access to the berries. A participant asked how they deal with birds eating the berries, Farmer Adam explained they plant mulberries specifically for the birds. The birds focus on their favorite mulberries and leave most of the other berries alone!
Stop #4: Silvopasture Orchard
Silvopasture is a practice that combines trees with forage for animals in a single area. The farm plants black locust trees which provide multiple services: they grow quickly without spray, they can be used for fencing without pressure treating, and they provide shade. In addition to black locust, they also grow persimmon, cherry, pawpaw, juju trees (which provide fruit and shade) in the same pasture method – allowing grasses to grow in between the trees. The farm rotates its flock of babydoll sheep and chickens (both coming on the tour soon!) through the silvopasture areas. The animals love to graze in the shade of the trees.
Stop #5: Mobile Chicken Coop
The farm has a mobile chicken system which they move around the farm. If they leave the chickens in one spot, the chickens will peck the ground to bare dirt and eat all bugs – moving them is essential. Rotating them makes happy, healthy chickens and landscapes.
Stop #6: Babydoll Sheep
Perhaps the cutest stop on the tour was the babydoll sheep. The farm raises these sheep to sell to hobby farms. The adorable animals can be used for wool or meat but are best “pets” on a farm. They are also good for mowing lawn areas. They happily graze in the silvopastures, moving their fences every few days.
Stop #7: Solar Panels
The farm has a number of solar panels, which also serve a multitude of purposes: they of course provide power to the farm and are also a great place to pasture the sheep.
Rarely do we get to glance at such an interesting and impactful farm. Their unique products and philosophy was truly inspiring and thought provoking. In a world of cookie cutter development, special places like Hundred Fruit Farm lead the way with innovation and land management that actually works.
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