voice (262)
642-8753Nokomis EcoDairy's
Environmental Practices
Soil Conservation
* Intensive rotational grazing, a modern method that restricts cows
to one part of the pasture at a time to allow maximum recovery of
the pastures.
* Crop rotation and permanent pastures on hillsides
* Research on the farm’s soil fertility by Michael Fields
Agricultural Institute
Humane Animal Care
* Bulls run with the cows and calves can run with their mothers as
newborns
* Balance between high milk production and animal health; we favor
grazing over grain-feeding
* Our loafing shed, with its roof, 3 walls and walk-around room, is
healthier for dairy cows than stalls.
Pollution Reduction
* Air quality is improved by growing hay and pasture grasses that
serve as a carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide from the air and
fixing nitrogen in the soil.
* Water quality is improved by conservation filtration strips along
the ditches to prevent soil erosion.
* Waste water from the milking parlor flows into 2 ponds, where
bio-organisms eat up manure on the ponds’ bottoms. 19 “Flow Form”
fountains clean the ponds’ water much as natural streams do,
customized for Nokomis Farm. Around the ponds, aquatic plants help
clean the ponds and prairie grasses provide lovely landscaping.
* Manure is fully composted with biodynamic preparations and the
biodynamic vegetable garden is rich with 20 years of compost.
Wildlife Enhancement
* Maintenance of hedgerows helps create the bird and wildlife
sanctuary amid the protected original savannah of oak trees native
to Wisconsin.
* 50 acres of wooded pasture with oaks and shag bark hickory trees
are maintained, offering shade and water amid the bio-diverse
fields, forest and wetlands.
* Beneficial insects are increased by providing habitat such as
hedgerows and harmful insects are decreased by a variety of crops
and crop rotations.
* A sustainable forest of 80 acres is maintained with clearings for
gatherings
Organic and Biodynamic Practices
* Biodynamic preparations are used to increase soil fertility (these
are special composts of stinging nettles, dandelions, chamomile, oak
bark, and valerian dissolved in water).
* Biodynamic corn and grains grown on the farm provide 80% of the
cows’ feed, aiming at self-sustainability.
* The biodynamic and organic certification process called Demeter is
maintained.
* Alternating row crops and hay achieves weed and pest control
* Festivals are regularly held on the farm to deepen relationships
between the community and the land.
* The farm is treated as one holistic ecosystem.
Education Programs
* “A Week on the Farm” provides education for children on
self-reliance and human-animal relationships. Farm animals for the
children’s program include horses, a cow, sheep, goats, pigs,
rabbits, chickens, geese, ducks, cats and dogs.
* A young-farmer internship program occurs annually.
Spiritual Practices
* Nokomis Farm offers meditation spots and Gaia ceremonies.