Flora Bay Farm

Flora Bay is a small semi-urban farm located in southern Illinois, close to Carbondale. The 6 acres we grow on include forested woodland, patches of 'restoration in progress' prairie, a hop yard, small orchard and raised beds. We focus on growing hops, culinary and medicinal herbs, cut flowers, small fruits, vegetables and native (Zone 6) perennials. Our growing practices are increasingly leaning towards permaculture, as we learn to live with the land and it's inhabitants. We are strictly non-GMO and when given the chance, choose heirloom varieties whenever possible. Our growing philosophy is "clean and green": sustainable growing methods, crop rotations, native plant habitat strips, cover cropping, rain water irrigation and compost. Absolutely no synthetic chemicals applied, instead using integrated pest management, barrier methods, and when needed, hand picking of insects. Fertilizer comes in the form of compost, cover crops and added materials (such as greensand, kelp, earthworm castings). We do not use tilling as a method of soil making, but instead use a more gentle approach by lifting and turning the soil by hand. A gentle soil building increases the productivity of our earthworms. More earthworms equals better soil! In 2012, my partner (Steve) and I graduated from the Southern Illinois Farm Beginnings program with business plan in hand. With the help of family, we purchased our farm and set to work! Our farm had been previously tended by a lady with a small hop yard on the land, several fruit trees and garden beds "in progress." We're fortunate to continue the care taking of this land and look forward to years of growth with the help from family and friends.