Homestead 1839

Currently, the Homestead has 5 acres of active farmland. 14 acres have been transitioned to a pollinator habitat through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The farm utilizes sustainable agricultural processes, which exclude the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, with a focus on permaculture. Permaculture is a system of agricultural principles that uses nature for the maximum production and benefit of people and land. For example, the purple martin bird is a natural predator of the dreaded Japanese beetle - a known scourge of plants and flowers. Using a natural predator of the insect is a natural way to control Japanese beetle populations on the farm; the birds can be attracted through special bird houses. Permaculture also includes agriculture techniques like crop rotation and companion planting. 

The end result of the farm is to create an oasis in an urban area. Most farming around the area consists of monoculture farming practices, and the Homestead strives to show what that difference looks like in a sustainable setting.