REGENERATIVE FARMING FOR SMALL PLACES

You have land. Now what?

You want to grow food you trust and leave the land better than you found it. You just don't know how yet. We'll walk your land with you and leave you a plan to start this season.

Book your land walk See what's in the plan

Anywhere in Michigan
Your plan in 5 days
We reply within 12 hours

A small flock of sheep grazing fresh grass inside portable electric netting at The Wildwoods Farm — OUR SHEEP, DOING THE MOWING

WHAT WE HEAR MOST

Sound familiar?

"The brush is winning."

You mow every summer and it comes back meaner. The right animals eat it back for you, and leave the ground better.

"We want to know where our food comes from."

Eggs, meat, a garden you trust. It all starts with your own ground. The hard part is knowing the first step, and we'll lay it out.

"We want to do it right. We just don't know how."

No sprays, no plowing, richer soil every year. You have the right idea. We'll show you how, one season at a time.

"We want it to work with nature, not against it."

Grass, animals, birds, bugs and soil all lean on each other. We plan your land so they pull in the same direction.

"We bought acres, not a manual."

The listing said "room to grow." Nobody said what to grow. We'll walk every corner and tell you what we see.

"We'd love animals. We also have jobs."

You need something that fits a real week, not a second job. We plan it in hours, so you know before you start.

Sound like you? Let's walk your land.

Book your land walk

REGENERATIVE, IN PLAIN WORDS

Let the animals do the heavy lifting.

Farming that leaves the soil, water and wildlife a little better every year. On a small place, it mostly comes down to three habits. People call it regenerative farming. We call it Tuesday.

Feed the soil

Manure, trampled grass and roots build dark, rich soil. No plowing and no bags of fertilizer.

Keep the animals moving

Short visits, long rests. The grass grows back thicker and the animals stay healthier.

Let nature back in

Birds follow the herd, beetles bury the manure, wildflowers come back. A balanced farm needs fewer fixes.

One of our pastures, this year

Sheep grazing plain grass inside electric netting in May — MAYPlain grass, and the sheep on their first visit.

The same pasture in July after hay was fed on it and seed was scattered — JULYWe fed hay on it and scattered seed. Hooves pressed it in.

The same pasture in September, with tall sorghum and leafy greens growing up through the grass — SEPTEMBERSorghum and greens up through the grass. No plow, no spray.

Slowing the water down

On a slope, rain runs off before it can soak in. So this summer we dug swales on our hillside: shallow ditches dug level across the slope that catch the rain and let it sink in. Then we planted cover crops along them, a mix of fast plants that shade and feed the soil.

Freshly dug swales running across a grassy hillside, with seed scattered along them — JUST DUGFresh swales, with seed scattered along each one.

The same swales in late August with the first green shoots along each line — AUGUST 27The first green coming up along every line.

The same hillside in September with a green strip of cover crop along each swale — SEPTEMBER 9A strip of cover crop on every swale.

THE LAND WALK

A morning on your land. A plan on your table.

1We walk it together. Two to three hours, every corner. Bring your questions and your boots.
2We talk about what you want. Food you raised yourself, healthier ground, less mowing, a project for the kids. Or all of it.
3Within five days, your plan. Written for your land and your family, ready to use.

Land walk and written plan$400 plus mileage

Your fields drawn and measured
Which animals, and how many
A shopping list with prices
Your week, in hours
A winter plan
Your first year, season by season

Book your land walk The plan is yours to keep, whatever you decide.

FLIP THROUGH A SAMPLE PLANNames and details changed

The cover of a sample starter plan, prepared for Your Family, with the plan drawn on a farm map

Tap a page to read it full size. Swipe or use the arrows to turn.

A homemade shade shelter on running gear and an open air chicken coop on skids at The Wildwoods Farm

AFTER THE PLAN

Want a hand after that?

Some families take the plan and run. Others want help with the first fence, a check-in later, or grant paperwork. We'll talk it through and agree on a price first.

Ask about extra help

BEFORE YOU ASK

Good questions

Is regenerative farming only for big farms?

Not at all. A few acres, a handful of animals and some portable fence is plenty to start. It's a great way to learn it.

Do we need animals or a tractor first?

Nope. Most people we meet have neither. A pickup truck and good fence go a long way.

Is our land big enough?

If you have a field, you have options. A few sheep can do well on a few acres. The walk tells us what yours can handle.

We travel a lot. Can we still do this?

Yes. We plan for it, down to a simple checklist for whoever watches the place.

How far do you travel?

Anywhere in Michigan. Mileage is 76 cents a mile, round trip from our farm.

What if we decide farming isn't for us?

Then you found out for $400, not a barn full of fence. The plan is still yours, and there's no sales pitch after.

LET'S TALK

Tell us about your place.

Chris does every walk and writes every plan himself. Tell him a little about your land and he'll set up a day.

810-854-2071 chris@thewildwoods.net

We reply within 12 hours.