SoFair Farms 2379 Mint Blvd Fairfield, IA 52556

Fairfield SoFair Farms

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 ANALYSIS Noise

North side if house Year round shaded section Worm-bin, shitake log, rabbits NW & NE of house only get summer sun. South side of house Frost reduction zone -allow for frost drainage. -tomatoes, peppers., squash Higher 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 break Protects house from N. winds -Plant wind sensitive plant -develop nuclei under windbreak to strengthen hedge. -Incorporate more functional plants

DESIGN PATCH: WIND TURBINE Bergey Windpower 10kW GridTek System

DESIGN PATCH: WIND TURBINE The Powersync II Power Processor converts the wind power to utility power at 240 VAC (or 230 VAC, 50 Hz). It’s 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.

10 kW BWC Excel-S with Powersync II inverter = $31,770 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 $62,000 RECOMMENDED FOR: Homes or businesses that use at least 1,000 kWh’s per month. Property sizes of 1 acre or more Wind 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 Water lily Cat tail Duckweed Arrowhead Pickerel Sedge Yellow Iris

DESIGN PATCH: AQUACULTURE POND

DESIGN PATCH: TIMBER FOREST

WHAT’S IN OUR TIMBER FOREST? Black Locust (Robina Pseudoacacia) Family: leguminosae 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.com

WHAT ELSE IS IN OUR TIMBER FOREST? Wild 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.com

ANYTHING ELSE IN THE 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

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 Hazelnut tree Dill White pine tree Walnut Jerusalem artichoke Sage Lupin Lilac Goumiberry Sunflower Serviceberry Garden bed species: Elderberry Potatoes Mulberry Aquaculture: Red peppers Frogs Carrots Insects Butternut squash Greenhouse: Turtles Zucchini Kale Ducks Siberian pea shrub Chard Cat tail Broccili Duckweed Fruit Orchard Species: Tomato Water lily Apple tree Pickerel Semi-Dwarf cherry tree Strawberries Yellow Iris Legumes Baby lettuce White Clover Animals: Lab-Lab Bean Vineyard: Goats Lucerne Grapes Chickens Acacia Hardy kiwi Guinea fowl Albizia Bees Black Locust Berry bushes/Hedgerow: Comfry Raspberries Coppice Woodlot: Peach tree Blackberries Red Oak trees Bounty plum tree Mulberries Black Locust trees Elderberries Herb Spirals: Wind Turbine: Basil Bee garden: Bergey Windpower 10kw GridTek System Lavendar Rosemary Hyssop Timber Lot: Chamomile Peppermint/Spearmint Black Locust tree Mint Borage Bur Oak trees Chives Lovage Wild Black Cherry trees Tarragon Food Forest: Tansy Chestnut tree

PHASES OF IMPLENTATION: 1- 2 years Build yurt Build compost toilets Build wind turbine/s Build greenhouse Build herb spirals Introduce chickens and guinea fowls Build beehive box and introduce bees Plant coppice woodlot Plant windbreak Build gabions Plant nitrogen fixing trees for the food forest Build trellis for vineyard and plant grapes and hardy kiwi Plant nitrogen fixing plants for fruit orchard Plant aquaculture pond plant species Build water catchment systems for the house and garage Plant banana circle for outdoor shower Plant berry bushes/hedgerow berry bushes Create compost piles Build duck island, introduce ducks Start to add fencing (starting with goat free-range area) Plant timber lot

PHASES OF IMPLENTATION 3 – 5 years: Rebuild main house Install passive solar panels on main house Plant remaining fruit orchard species Introduce goats Windbreak will begin to be ideal height Prepare and plant community garden Ponds are created by gabions Plant remaining food forest species Build sauna with wood from the timber lot and coppice wood lots Build gazebo Build bat house Build hawk perch Finish fencing Begin to harvest black locust Construct water catchment systems for the yurt, barn, and greenhouse Goat dairy Begin constructed wetlands Begin annual prarie burns

6 – 10 years: Begin to harvest wild black cherry trees Prepare and plant three sisters lot Use ponds behind gabion for aquaculture Build amphitheater Finish constructed wetlands Maintanence of pond, gabion, swale Mainanence of tools/equipment 10 – 25 years: Harvest bur oak

EVALUATION 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.