Slide 1

SoFair Farms 2379 Mint Blvd Fairfield, IA 52556

SoFair FarmsFairfield

GOALS STATEMENT

SoFair Farms is an evolving eco-village focused on creating educational opportunities through every aspect of the farms development and maintenance.

Passive solar and wind provide the energy we need, diverting water through earth works gives us sustained irrigation capabilities and focusing on perennial crops provides abundant food while enhancing the quality of the land.

We balance the relationship between channeling and blocking elements such as water and wind to meet our needs while protecting the ecosystem.

FLOW ANALYSIS

SECTOR ANALYSISNoise

North side if houseYear round shaded sectionWorm-bin, shitake log, rabbitsNW & NE of house only get summer sun.

South side of houseFrost reduction zone-allow for frost drainage.-tomatoes, peppers., squashHigher year round temperature-potted sub-tropical plants brought indoors over the winter.

Pond ranges in depth -Free floating, severable, emergent, & floating leaf plants

Warming -less frost

Light radiation -W. side of pond gets more light in the morning.

Extended growing season -Plant species on the W. side of pond that need extra ripening time.

Morning shade-Tree/ crops that require party sunny conditions

Zone 3 & 4 Edge-Hazel nuts & service berries

Cooler temperatures due to being at the bottom of the hill.

Two drop-offs roughly 3ft down at 45degith a 15ft plate between them.

-Easily turns into a terrace -Protection from wind -abundant water supply

Wind breakProtects house from N. winds -Plant wind sensitive plant -develop nuclei under windbreak to strengthen hedge. -Incorporate more functional plantsDESIGN PATCH: WIND TURBINE Bergey Windpower 10kW GridTek System

The Powersync II Power Processor converts the wind power to utility power at 240 VAC (or 230 VAC, 50 Hz).

Its output connects directly to your circuit breaker panel.

The Guyed-Lattice tower is the least cost tower type and a 100 ft. tower is tall enough for most locations. Shorter towers reduce performance and increase the payback time.

DESIGN PATCH: WIND TURBINE COST:10 kW BWC Excel-S with Powersync II inverter = $31,770

100 ft guyed lattice tower kit = $14, 145

Tower wiring kit = $1, 615

Additional shipping, sales tax, permit costs, foundation and anchoring, wire run, turbine and tower erection, electrical hook-up, and inspection fees range from $6,000 to $15,000

Total costs $47,530 + $6,000 to $15,000 = $53,000 to $62,000RECOMMENDED FOR: Homes or businesses that use at least 1,000 kWhs per month.Property sizes of 1 acre or moreWind Class 2 or higher

DESIGN PATCH: FOOD FOREST

DESIGN PATCH: FOOD FOREST

DESIGN PATCH: BEE GARDEN AREA

DESIGN PATCH: AQUACULTURE POND

DESIGN PATCH: AQUACULTURE POND

DESIGN PATCH: AQUACULTURE POND

Cat tailPickerelSedgeDuckweed Water lily

ArrowheadYellow Iris

DESIGN PATCH: AQUACULTURE POND

DESIGN PATCH: TIMBER FOREST

Black Locust (Robina Pseudoacacia)

Family: leguminosae

WHATS IN OUR TIMBER FOREST?Attributes: Nitrogen fixer, soil stabilizer, grows fast (15m-30m), pollinated by bees, edible seeds, you can get a dye from the seeds, attracts many animals (bees, birds, white tail deer, squirrels)

Timber Qualities: 5.95/ plant, strong wood, resistant to rot, good for load bearing projects. Can be bought through tyty.comWild black Cherry (Prunus Serotina)

Family:Rose

Attributes: pioneer species, brings wild life, has an edible cherry (used in pies and jam), prone to storm damage, 15m-30m tall.

Timber Qualities: 7.95/plant, timber is valuable, beautiful and high quality, used for finish projects. Can be bought through tyty.comWHAT ELSE IS IN OUR TIMBER FOREST?Bur Oak (Quercus Macrocarpa)

Family:Fagacae

Attributes: grows slowly, get to 15m high, very fire resistant, pollinated by wind, seeds are edible (largest acorns in North America), roasted seeds are a coffee substitute, inner bark and roots are used for alleviating cramps

Timber qualities: 5.95/plant, high quality wood, high value on the market, very durable. Can be bought through northern trading company

ANYTHING ELSE IN THE TIMBER FOREST?Succession of timber lot:

The Black Locust will be planted heavily to enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen, create fodder for animals, and ensure that the trunks of the trees will grow straight.

The Wild Black Cherry and Bur Oak will be planted next.

The black locust will be ready in 5-8 years for poles and 10-15 for limber, the Wild Cherry in 20-25 years, and the Bur Oak in 40-50 years.

All the while producing a range of products without having to diminish the quality of lumber yielded.Species Master List

Garden bed species:PotatoesRed peppersCarrotsButternut squashZucchiniSiberian pea shrub

Fruit Orchard Species:Apple treeSemi-Dwarf cherry treeLegumesWhite CloverLab-Lab BeanLucerneAcaciaAlbiziaBlack LocustComfryPeach treeBounty plum tree

Herb Spirals:BasilLavendarRosemaryChamomileMintChives

Food Forest:Chestnut treeHazelnut treeWhite pine treeWalnutJerusalemartichokeLupinGoumiberryServiceberryElderberryMulberryComfry

Greenhouse:KaleChardBrocciliTomatoCarrotsStrawberriesBaby lettuce

Vineyard:GrapesHardy kiwi

Berry bushes/Hedgerow:RaspberriesBlackberriesMulberriesElderberries

Bee garden:LavendarHyssopPeppermint/SpearmintBorageLovageTarragonTansyDillLupinRosemarySageLilacSunflowerSiberian pea shrub

Aquaculture:FrogsInsectsTurtlesDucksCat tailDuckweedWater lilyPickerelYellow Iris

Animals:GoatsChickensGuinea fowlBees

Coppice Woodlot:Red Oak treesBlack Locust trees

Wind Turbine:Bergey Windpower 10kw GridTek System

Timber Lot:Black Locust treeBur Oak treesWild Black Cherry trees

PHASES OF IMPLENTATION: 1- 2 yearsBuild yurtBuild compost toiletsBuild wind turbine/sBuild greenhouseBuild herb spiralsIntroduce chickens and guinea fowlsBuild beehive box and introduce beesPlant coppice woodlotPlant windbreakBuild gabionsPlant nitrogen fixing trees for the food forestBuild trellis for vineyard and plant grapes and hardy kiwiPlant nitrogen fixing plants for fruit orchardPlant aquaculture pond plant speciesBuild water catchment systems for the house and garagePlant banana circle for outdoor showerPlant berry bushes/hedgerow berry bushesCreate compost pilesBuild duck island, introduce ducksStart to add fencing (starting with goat free-range area)Plant timber lotPHASES OF IMPLENTATION 3 5 years:

Rebuild main houseInstall passive solar panels on main housePlant remaining fruit orchard speciesIntroduce goatsWindbreak will begin to be ideal heightPrepare and plant community gardenPonds are created by gabionsPlant remaining food forest speciesBuild sauna with wood from the timber lot and coppice wood lotsBuild gazeboBuild bat houseBuild hawk perchFinish fencingBegin to harvest black locustConstruct water catchment systems for the yurt, barn, and greenhouseGoat dairyBegin constructed wetlandsBegin annual prarie burns6 10 years:Begin to harvest wild black cherry treesPrepare and plant three sisters lotUse ponds behind gabion for aquacultureBuild amphitheaterFinish constructed wetlandsMaintanence of pond, gabion, swaleMainanence of tools/equipment

10 25 years:Harvest bur oakEVALUATION PLAN

The farm will be managed by a Permaculturally trained farm manager who will be living on the property and is responsible for budgeting, organizing interns and WWOOFers, and maintaining the integrity of the farm through seasonal, annual, and 5-year evaluations.

The seasonal evaluations will focus on microclimate integrity and the health and performance of the plants as evidenced by disease/damage and a yield that will meet the food demands of the staff and eventually the eco-village.

The annual evaluations will focus on the condition of the timber and coppice wood lots with regards to disease and height required for harvesting, perennial food production yield to meet food supply needs of the farm and eco-village, as well as soil evaluation in regards to quality and improvement in the soil.

The 5 year evaluation will look at the structures on the farm, including the integrity and stability of the buildings, the success of the gabions evidenced by improved water quality, as well as maintenance of the edge, shape, depth, and water quality of the ponds.