Agriculture can produce healthy foods while controlling invasive species, supporting biodiversity, improving water quality, and rebuilding healthy soils while storing carbon. Land Stewards is creating an applied research facility on its Hudson Valley campus to design and demonstrate such practices through collaboration with other innovators in this field.
Native Grassland for Hay Production
Grasslands are the fastest disappearing habitat in North America. More than 90% of eastern U.S. grasslands have been lost since European settlement, according to the National Park Service. Meanwhile, to feed Land Stewards' herds during the winter, we need a reliable source of nutritious hay. Seeing an opportunity to address both of these needs, we are developing a 70-acre native grassland that will benefit both our regenerative agriculture program and the ecosystem.
Three out of every four Eastern Meadowlarks has disappeared since 1970 according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Compared to traditional hayfields, native grasslands provide essential habitat for songbirds, pollinators, and other animals like cottontail rabbits. The deep, perennial roots of native grasses and wildflowers also store carbon and improve hydrology and nutrient cycles.
We've worked with seed suppliers to design a blend of native grass and wildflower seeds for our grassland. A single cut of hay (after birds have nested) will provide nutritious feed for our livestock. We will also use our grasslands to research carbon sequestration, soil health, biodiversity benefits (from insects to mammals), and calculate the yield and nutritional value of hay produced. Our goal is to inspire others to convert some conventional hay fields to native grasses and wildflowers.
Permaculture Design and Regenerative Farming
We are demonstrating agricultural systems that work in harmony with the land to produce healthy food, using the principles of permaculture design and regenerative farming.
“Every second, an equivalent of four football fields of healthy soil becomes degraded.”
Permaculture is a design philosophy that emphasizes the long-term stability and sustainability of landscapes by incorporating lessons from nature to keep everything in balance. By working with nature to find a healthy balance, we can restore productive natural areas and food-rich landscapes that sustain biodiversity and heal the land.
Regenerative farming is an approach to agriculture that focuses on rebuilding and sustaining soil health, storing carbon, absorbing and conserving water, and promoting biodiversity. By cultivating diverse and resilient agricultural landscapes, we can provide multiple benefits to people and the environment, enriching the land instead of depleting it.
