Week 1, Fall ‘20
By Remi Welbel
We have arrived! After months of conducting research on biochar and agroforestry, networking with farmers and organizations, applying for grants, developing research questions, renovating the farmhouse, and imagining what our time here would look like, we have finally made it. Last Saturday morning, Gavi, our parents, and I packed up the car and drove from Chicago to Sheldon, where we met up with our fellow Evanstonians, Julia, Samm, Sasha, and Claire, and our first East Coaster, Charlotte. Bunk beds were built and the fridge was filled as we began to settle into our new community home. The first night, spent from a long day of moving in, we made dinner and tucked into our beds, with Charlotte braving the night outside in her tent as we awaited her negative Covid test (which fortunately arrived the next morning).
The next morning, awaking to the sounds of our noisy neighbors, the cows, we sat down at the kitchen table with coffee mugs in hand to begin discussing our plan for our first week on the farm. We were ready to get to work!
We have multiple research projects underway. Our farm will be the site of a case study to determine the ecological benefits of sustainable farming—converting previously industrialized agricultural land to a carbon-smart model using agroforestry, permaculture, horticulture, and soil amendments. Our central overarching question will be: What is the maximum carbon capture potential per acre of land put into agroforestry use in the midwest U.S., given different tree types and levels of biodiversity, tree spacing, biochar production conditions, and biochar application techniques? We will also consider the ecological co-benefits that arise such as changing soil quality, crop yield, and biodiversity. Given the long-term nature of agroforestry, this will include simulations in addition to collected field data.
Ultimately, we want to investigate the financial viability and ecological benefits of using carbon-smart farming, and develop a replicable model of sustainable agriculture in the Midwest. Throughout our time here, we will be connecting with local farmers in the region to learn from their knowledge of the land and to understand what they might want to learn or explore on our farm. We want to learn about the current systems and constraints local farmers operate within and their hopes for the future of Midwestern agriculture. Additionally, we will be learning from the expertise of local farmers who have already adopted carbon-smart practices.
On Wednesday, we received some very exciting news from the Delta Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to environmental justice—they have decided to partner with us! With their support, we have applied to a grant from the Lumpkin Family Foundation which aligns exceedingly well with our vision. At the end of the day, like the end of most of our days here, we took a long walk through the woods area that we will soon start mapping, and made dinner together.
On Thursday, our biochar kiln from Rochester, NY arrived. We are beyond excited to begin our biochar research. Our first endeavor into biochar production will involve chopping up a fallen tree lying just inside the woodland area and anaerobically burning it in our kiln. From this initial dive into biochar, we hope to learn more about the machinery, the length of the entire process, and the amount of labor required to turn a single tree into biochar.
On Friday, we had a wonderful meeting with Kate Wersan, the associate director of the Savanna Institute. Throughout the past few months, we have worked closely with the Savanna Institute, leaning on their expertise in agroforestry and their commitment to establishing demonstration farms that are paving the way for sustainable agriculture in the Midwest, and equipping new farmers with the tools they need to succeed. Ultimately, we hope to become a demonstration farm where apprentices can come and learn about agroforestry and regenerative agricultural practices.
After our meeting with Kate, we began our Shabbat dinner preparations. We kneaded challah dough, cooked split-pea soup, and made a quinoa broccoli dish. Our second East Coaster, Sophie, arrived that afternoon. In the evening, we lit Shabbat candles, said the Kiddush over our wine, and said the blessing over our Challah under the stars. We went inside to enjoy dinner and get to know our newest housemate. After a beautiful Shabbat dinner, we had Oneg (a traditional community gathering on Friday and Saturday nights), played some fun games, and talked late into the night.
Thank you for taking the time to read my recap on our first week at the farm! We are all so happy to be together and to be learning so much. We can hardly contain our excitement for the what is to come!
Shabbat Shalom,
Remi