Solace Farm

Website: s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh137/solacefarm/?albumview=link

Solace farm is currently at the historic Swiss Colony farm in Gruetli-Laager. We are planning to build our own little paradise in Coalmont in the fall of 2009. In the meantime, we are caretaking the old farm here, raising heritage chickens and turkeys, a few goats, dogs and cats of course, and whatever else strikes our fancy (ducks?). I have 2 gardens, the large “farm garden” at the old farmhouse, that is mostly period (pre-1900) German, Swiss, French, and Tennessee varieties of veggies. The other smaller “house garden” has the more unusual stuff – red okra, purple beans – or whatever just doesn’t fit in the other one! Both are grown using natural methods without any chemicals, in wide beds. I am a big fan of mulching instead of weeding, and planting things as closely as possible to also prevent weeds. If any fertilizer is needed, we use the output of our goats, chickens, and turkeys, as well as composting veggie scraps and using green manure crops. For bug control, we utilize the poultry as much as possible (they love June bugs and Japanese beetles!) as well as garlic and neem oil sprays and hand-picking. We also make soap, shampoo and lotion bars, all vegetable-oil based and both scented and all-natural unscented varieties. Feel free to stop by and get a tour of the farm (amy.rae.e@gmail.com or 779-4132 for directions), and don’t forget the Festival here the last Saturday in July!