Holistic Management practitioner, Drausin Wulsin completed his first season with a Shade Haven mobile shade structure on his farm, Red Stone Farm, in Cynthiana, Ohio in 2017. He’s already purchased another for the 2018 grazing season.
“This is one of the tools that can lead to sustainability on a farm,” says Wulsin. “It gives one the ability to micromanage the land. It is a very effective tool.”
Farming for about 20 years, Wulsin left a career in the financial industry to farm full time. Today 150 bovine units, a couple hundred sheep, some hogs and laying hens graze the fertile lands of Red Stone Farm. Certified organic since 2013, the farm added organic dairy to the mix two years ago.
Wulsin and his wife Susan operate their farm, about 85 miles east of Cincinnati, and a business, Grassroots Farm & Foods, that sells their grass-fed meats and milks to restaurants and people in southern Ohio. They also sell their meats and Susan’s hand-prepared foods on the Grassroots Farm & Foods website.
Wulsin adheres to grass-based, sustainable farm practices, including planned grazing. “We are constantly moving the animals to fresh pasture and fresh grass,” he says. “We have long rest periods of 30 to 90 days. We move them slowly when the grass is growing slowly.”
He says one of his biggest challenges as a livestock farmer is winter feed. “There are a number of ways to address that. One of which is building organic matter in the soil, so that you grow more feed and have a longer grazing season.”
The Shade Haven is an effective tool for building organic matter. “The beauty of the structure is that it allows you to surgically address issues of shade and issues of infertility,” says Wulsin. “You can place the structure where you want in order to get the greatest impact. It gives me ultimate mobility and flexibility to focus on a small scale on a piece of land. That eventually is going to build organic matter. We move manure away from the trees and into the pastures, that is going to help our pastures and help our organic matter, and ultimately help our bottom line.”
Pleased with the performance of his first Shade Haven, Wulsin ordered another. “I think it is very well-designed, good looking, mobile and durable. We have had some high winds and it is not affected.”
The two Shade Havens used by Wulsin are the SH1200 model. Shade Haven added a third mobile shade model, the SH600, in late 2017. The new unit is ideal for herds of 20-30 cattle and sells for $11,900. But if you mention you heard about the SH600 from HMI you’ll get $1000 off. Be sure to place your order before April 15 to get this introductory offer!
Call (855) 247-4233 or email info@shadehaven.net to learn more.
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