Mother Earth Farms, LLC

In 2005, Mother Earth Farms began experimenting with composting using many different agricultural waste streams. We shortened the cycle time by mechanically turning windrows using a high horsepower agricultural tractor and windrow turner. The results were strong and replicable. However the machinery needed and diesel fuel were expensive. We became interested in developing a more efficient method that used a variety of organic inputs which were high in nitrogen and carbon, unlike traditional compost which mainly relies on animal manure. This led to using simpler technology or what we call "appropriate technology". Over several years, we applied a large volume of this compost to a portion of our land. The dormant seed "woke up" and began to grow at an alarming rate requiring a thorough cutting every 2 weeks over 400+ acres of treated ground. After considerable time and multiple applications, we planted a variety of crops which produced astonishing yields, yet we removed little and let the organic material continue to convert the "dirt" into "soil". We continued this process over a period of years with our interest in growing organic, non GMO produce. We planted corn, organic vegetable seed, in addition to other crop experiments.