Kiss the Ground! We got a Grant!

We are the lucky recipients of a Regenerative Transition grant from Kiss the Ground! Earlier this spring, we were notified that our new farm was one of 215 farms to receive funding from KTG to assist with transitioning to regenerative practices. These grants impact 73,000 acres across the US.

We are using the funds to convert the first portion of degraded row crop acres to rotational grazing and to produce our first harvests of pastured eggs, chicken, lamb and pork. We are slowly turning the abandoned facilities back into usable shape. Our first cover crops were no-till planted last week. We have broilers and laying hens growing out on pasture. Our first chicken will be available to purchase at the end of May! The first 30 pigs are happily exploring the "kindergarten" pasture before they get moved to the woods. The lambs arrive later this month. They'll lead the pasture rotation for the rest of the summer, with the chickens following behind to clean up.

We've still got a long way to go, needing to lay water lines, install permanent perimeter fencing and upgrade our electrical and plumbing infrastrucucture, which will occupy us through the summer and beyond. In the meanwhile, we're preparing for our first farmer's market in New Glarus June 6, where we'll be selling pastured chicken and taking orders for this fall's lamb and pork.

Enjoy this pictorial summary of our journey so far!

Training Pen "Before" renovation

Training pen renovated and ready for animals

We bought an old farm. (Most farms are). Our first months have involved lots of rehabilitation and cleanup.

Hard work and some help from the grant enabled us to get a receiving and training pen in place. This is where our new animals spend a few days getting settled in and getting used to us and electric fences. Then they move out to pasture and get moved daily (sheep and chickens) or weekly (pigs).

Chicks were the first animals on the farm. We started with 30 laying hens and 70 broilers. 30 more laying hens and the next batch of broilers are coming later in May.

We add natural elements and food to their brooder until they're ready to go out on pasture.

Pigs were our next addition. This is their first day on pasture after training. They'll stay in the "kindergarten" paddock for a week or so, then move into the woods.

Sheep are the final species to come to the farm this spring. This group of lambs arrives in a few days!

We hope to see you at the market or at the farm this summer! We'll have chicken available May 31, eggs later this summer and lamb and pork available in the fall. Sign up on our main website: https://www.wildtyperanch.com