Grazing to Improve Production: Carbon, Grass and Meat
June 2, 2018
Flint Hill, Virginia
**Special Rate** Enter promotional code CARBON when selecting your ticket and only pay $20/person!
Agenda
| Saturday | June 2, 2018 |
|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | Registration and Social |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome, Overview and Introduction to Holistic Management - Ben Bartlett |
| 9:10 AM | The Bean Hollow Grassfed Story – Mike Sands |
| 9:30 AM | Farm Tour: Multi-Species Grazing, Before/After Pastures, Warm/Cool Season Grasses and Monitoring - Mike Sands, David Massie and Charlotte Lorick |
| 11:15 AM | A Taste of Holistic Management: Choosing the Right Enterprises, Decisions and Financial Analysis – Ben Bartlett |
| Noon | Lunch |
| 12:45 PM | Why A Greener World? - Katie Amos |
| 1:00 PM | Experiential Learning: Sheep Netting and Fencing, Water Pipes and/or Water Infiltration - Small Group Exercises |
| 2:30 PM | Group Discussion: What Did We Learn Today? Evaluations |
| 3:00 PM | Demonstration: Cleaner Water for All with a Portable Solar Pump - Chesapeake Bay Foundation |
| 4:30 PM | Adjourn |
Presenters
Ben Bartlett, Holistic Management Certified Educator
Internationally renowned grazing expert Ben and wife Denise have operated a pasture-based sheep and cattle operation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for almost 40 years. They use their 400 May lambing ewes and 150 stocker steers to finance their traveling habit now that they have retired from Michigan State University Extension and school librarian positions respectfully. The use of Holistic Management decision-making for over 20 years has empowered them to build the soil health of their farm, share their sustainable farming methods with local school children and most importantly, is enabling them to pass on to their three children and nine grandchildren both a philosophy and land they can be proud of.
Michael W. Sands, Owner/Operator, Bean Hollow Grassfed
Mike, with his wife Betsy, is the owner/operator of Bean Hollow Grassfed, a pasture-based farm raising grassfed sheep and cattle in Virginia. Mike is committed to onfarm research and field education activities needed for the development of economically viable and environmentally regenerative pasture-based systems in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Currently Senior Associate of the Liberty Prairie Foundation (LPF), he served as founding Executive Director. This small private operating foundation, based in IL, is dedicated to the integration of economically prosperous, ecologically sensitive farms and high quality natural areas into vibrant working landscapes. He founded the Farm Business Development Center, a business incubator for beginning organic farmers.
As Environmental Team Leader at Prairie Crossing in Grayslake, IL. Mike provided leadership in the design and management of natural resources and farm lands in an innovative conservation community.
Matt Kowalski, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Matt Kowalski has been a scientist at the Chesapeake Bay foundation since 2016, where he works on issues related to habitat restoration. The influence of agriculture on water quality, and the use of cost-share to implement best management practices on farms is his focus. He previously worked for the Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District, and was a wildlife biologist with the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program for nine years. He received a M.S. in Biology from California University of Pennsylvania and likes to take an ecosystem approach to addressing watershed restoration issues.
Matt lives with his family in the northern part of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities that allow him to connect with nature. Matt will demonstrate a solar power watering system designed to keep natural water sources clean.
David Massie, Culpeper Soil and Water District
David joined the District in October 2006 as a Conservation Specialist. Born in Charlottesville, David grew up in Rappahannock County on his family’s beef cattle farm. He graduated from Rappahannock County High School, where he was a 4-H All Star and an Eagle Scout. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Policy from Roanoke College in 2006. While in college, David interned at Piedmont Environmental Council & Mill Mountain Educational Park in Roanoke. He has worked on the family farm since he was 13. The farm is a 5th generation commercial operation that has installed CREP and various Best Management Practices. In his spare time, David enjoys fishing and canoeing.
Charlotte Lorick, Smithsonian Virginia Working Landscapes
Charlotte Lorick is the Outreach and Communications Coordinator for SCBI’s Virginia Working Landscapes, a Smithsonian-led research program that promotes the conservation of native biodiversity and sustainable land-use through research, education and community engagement. Charlotte’s role is to serve as a key liaison with VWL’s dynamic network of citizen scientists, landowners, collaborating organization, and the public and to share the progress and results of VWL’s research to inspire conservation action.
Charlotte completed her B.A. in political economics at Barnard College in New York with a focus on agricultural economics and sustainable development. Subsequently, she worked in Zambia with small-scale subsistence farmers, apprenticed on an organic vegetable farm, and worked at Bean Hollow Grassfed, a regenerative planned grazing farm in Flint Hill. Charlotte’s interest in sustainable agriculture and relationship building led her to the Smithsonian where she enjoys connecting the scientific community and the general public. She is an outdoor enthusiast and naturalist and is interested in understanding how humans interact with the natural world and how to promote sustainable interactions, particularly on working lands.
Joseph M. Guthrie, Survey Coordinator, Virginia Working Landscapes
Photograph by Carlton Ward Jr / Carlton Ward Photography / CarltonWard.com.
Joseph M. Guthrie is the Survey Coordinator for the Virginia Working Landscapes program of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia. His work prior to joining VWL includes co-founding the Florida Wildlife Corridor project, a stint working for the National Wildlife Refuge Association, and most recently, as Conservation Biologist staff for the Charlottesville-based landscape design firm, Nelson Byrd Woltz. Joe earned his master’s degree at the University of Kentucky, completing a thesis based on his work GPS-tracking the Florida black bear across the ranchlands and swamp forests of South-Central Florida. Beginning with his masters research, Joe has devoted his attention to understanding the role private, working farms and ranches play in protecting biodiversity across the Southeastern United States. Joe is a native of Henry County, Kentucky, and now lives in Washington, Virginia.
Katie Amos, Lead Farmer and Market Outreach Coordinator at A Greener World (AGW)
Katie is a Pennsylvania native, currently living in Lancaster County. Before joining AGW, she worked as the Marketing & Sales Manager for a farm in PA, gaining a strong background in working with farmers and agricultural marketing. She is passionate about communicating the benefits of high-welfare animal agriculture to consumers and farmers, and enjoys promoting the program throughout her region. Katie is responsible for leading AGW’s outreach team, assists with new programs and initiatives within the organization–including AGW’s labeling support and membership programs, and is responsible for farmer and consumer services in the Northeast region
Registration
Advanced registration is $35 per person (includes lunch). Online registration closes May 29, 2018. Walk in registration is $40 per person, if available.
**Special Rate** Enter promotional code CARBON when selecting your ticket and only pay $20/person!
Register soon, as we have limited space available. Sorry, registration fees are non-refundable.
If you are unable to register online, please fill out the HMI Event Registration Form and mail along with your check or money order to:
HMI Registration Dept.5941 Jefferson St. NE, Ste B
Albuquerque, NM 87109
This is a rain or shine event. Please bring appropriate clothing, footwear and a water bottle.
Location
Click to see the Google Map.
Bean Hollow Grassfed
15 Over Jordan Farm Lane
Flint Hill, VA 22627
Bean Hollow Grassfed @ Over Jordan Farm operates on the premise that grazing livestock can be a profitable way to heal the land. They like to tell folks “we grow carbon, grass and meat”. With ~150 breeding ewes, their lambs, 10-20 steers, and 2 Anatolians guarding everybody, it is sometimes a three-ring circus!
Their first sheep arrived in October 2013. Since then they have continued to grow the operation with custom grazing of cattle, seasonal feeder pigs, and occasional use of goats for brush control. Historically they have marketed the majority of lambs as weaned animals to neighboring farms. They are increasing their direct markets through local word of mouth and potentially opening an on-farm store. Their sheep flock is certified grassfed and Animal Welfare Approved.
Bean Hollow Grassfed uses a system of “mob grazing” that combines all the sheep cattle, and goats into one “flerd”. The animals are grazed on small parcels and moved every 1-3 days. This both creates greater plant utilization and allows for longer rest periods for the pastures. Over time this enhances the soils and plant diversity. Their goal is to extend our grazing season to a year round practice. They use warm season grasses to improve their production in July and August. They use their stockpiled grass for feeding through the winter. “We’re not there yet but get closer every year,” said owner Mike Sands.
Working with partners, including Piedmont Environmental Council and the Smithsonian’s Virginia’s Working Landscapes network, Bean Hollow Grassfed has been monitoring a broad number of soil and plant characteristics, along with bird and pollinator populations.
Directions: From Hwy 522 in Flint Hill, take Fodderstack Road 1.4 miles to Dearing Road. Take Dearing Rd to Bean Hollow Road (dirt). Turn left on Bean Hollow and take the first right on Over Jordan Farm Lane to Bean Hollow Grassfed. (phone 847-812-1618)
Thank you to the generous support of our Funder for helping to make this day possible:
Thank you to our Sponsors.
Sponsor This Series
Our Open Gate series offers organizations, agencies and businesses a great opportunity to network with farmers, ranchers and consumers interested in sustainable agricultural ideas, products and services. We offer a variety of affordable Sponsorship Opportunities to connect you with our community. Please email Carrie Stearns at [email protected] for more information.
