If you've always wanted to help out on the farm or you like meeting and hanging out with other outdoorsy people, come join us!

In 2024 I was fortunate to receive a Conservation Stewardship Program contract with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. This is a great federal program that rewards farmers for their conservation practices (in my case, adaptive grazing) in exchange for continuing to implement additional conservation "enhancements" on their farm.

Some of the enhancements I've already completed -- like interseeding more pollinator friendly flowering legumes into my pastures and establishing a new 1 acre native prairie pollinator planting. But I also agreed to a couple of BIG projects that I have realized I could use some community help with!

This year, that project is planting 1,250hardwood tree seedlings (2-3' tall). The full list for the tree enthusiasts is: red, burr, and swamp white oak, red and silver maple, black willow, cottonwood, improved American elm, and hackberry. These trees will not only sequester carbon and provide habitat to birds and wildlife, but will eventually provide shade for the livestock, becoming what's known as silvopasture.

I'm sure you can see how this feels like a daunting task, but after talking with SWCD foresters, I'm convinced this will be a fun and fulfilling day for 30-40 volunteers willing to come out and lend a helping hand!

Why so many trees you might ask? The truth is that establishing trees is quite difficult and we increase our chances of success by planting more than we expect to survive.

But that's why our tree planting day will also include many tasks other than just putting the trees in the ground (which does require some day-of training), including:

tamping down the ground around the tree with your feet
installing stakes and deer-proof treeguards
watering in each sapling
mulching around the guards with wool from Medicine Creek sheep

So there will be plenty of jobs for everyone!

I am also planning this day with an organization called Farm Buds whose whole purpose is to create community around helping farmers with big on-farm projects, so there will also be food, camping, and likely music around a bonfire.

And anyone who's attended a Butcher's Dinner will recognize Butcher Brian here yet again to feed the masses!

If you are able to join, we request that you fill out the Farm Buds RSVP form so we know when to expect you, how much food to prepare, and can better plan our tree planting tasks and teams.

RSVP: bit.ly/farmtrees

Thank you so much for your continued support of the farm and everything else I know you do to be the helpers in the world!

Tree Planting Party