D2_Agraria_Journal_21_OPT

SILVOPASTURE Since the purchase of Agraria we’ve been planning to integrate silvopasture and managed rotational grazing into our farming practices because of the role they play in building and maintaining ecosystem health. Silvopasture is an agroforestry practice that combines trees with livestock and forage production. Livestock in a managed rotational grazing system are pastured in fenced-off sections and moved regularly to prevent overgrazing. The practice builds healthy soil and leads to healthy animals. We added chickens and ducks last year to our front campus. The EQIP grant we received provided funding for a well and perimeter fencing around the 28-acre rotational grazing pasture. We are hosting a fencing workshop this fall in partnership with the Tecumseh Land Trust and Central State University. Xinyuan Shi, who has an interest in agroforestry, created a preliminary design for a 3-acre silvopasture HUSTON ROAD The new high tunnel on Huston Road is a visible sign of Agraria’s developing capacity for agricultural production and training. Growing inside the high tunnel are a variety of vegetables that Agraria plans to either sell or donate to area food pantries and farm stands in food insecure areas. Sweet potato plants growing alongside the other vegetables are part of a research project conducted by Dr. Marcus Nagle, professor of horticulture at Central State University. A plot outside the hoophouse is also dedicated to the sweet potato research project, which explores the ability of certain varieties to thrive in northern climes. Visitors to the site this year may also see Fellows from Agraria’s new Regenerative Training and Incubation program for beginning and underserved farmers offered in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and Central State University. Partner farmer Jeremy Schleining will bring some color to the Huston Road site later this year with his plot of cut flowers. Funding for the high tunnel, which was installed by Agraria staff led by VISTA Xinyuan Shi, was provided by an EQIP grant. The grant also funded installation of a well on that site and another site on Agraria. We intend to plant trees along the perimeter to provide a natural privacy fence between the site and the neighboring property. Also planned for the Huston Road site is a Class 2 composting facility, which will serve local residents. Funding for the project was provided by a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Agraria staff and volunteers, led by VISTA Xinyuan Shi, installed a new high tunnel on Huston Road. BOB HUSTON AGRARIA JOURNAL 2021 41