A fledgling market farm practicing regenerative agriculture in the rising foothills of Oregon’s Coast Range.
In 2023, we are excited to offer our first major dry farmed harvest including tomatoes, potatoes, beans, squash, melons, and cut sunflowers, as well as some native and pollinator friendly plants.
We look forward to seeing you at the farmers markets!
Dry Farming, Rainfall Farming, & Harvested Rainwater
During the summer months, we practice dry farming: an ancient practice that is receiving new focus as a climate resilience strategy, as well as its ability to increase flavor and storability. Our dry farmed crops rely solely on the water stored in the soil, surviving without irrigation.
In the rainy season, we rely on natural rainfall to water our crops. For our plant starts and a few water-hungry crops, we use harvested rainwater collected off of our barn roof.
Soil First & Bee Friendly
We see organic standards as the bare minimum. We only use soil amendments allowed under certified organic farming, and we do not use any herbicides or pesticides.
Aside from an initial heavy stirring of the soil to break up perennial pasture grasses with a power harrow, we practice minimal-till farming. We are incorporating cover crops, crop rotation, intercropping, and letting soil rest (lie fallow) into our practices.
We farm our southwest facing hillside along the contour to improve water infiltration and prevent erosion. To minimize soil compaction, we use a lightweight walk-behind tractor to manage permanent rows and pathways, and we spend a significant amount of time using hand tools.
No Plastic Mulch
In our effort to avoid any single-use plastics, we do not use plastic mulch and instead rely on hand weeding and natural mulches sourced onsite, as well as OMRI approved paper mulch, which can be safely incorporated into the soil or composted at the end of the season. When it comes to plastic pots, frost blankets, and other plastic used on the property – we try to invest in quality products that can be reused for many seasons.
Forage for Wildlife
We are setting aside portions of our small farm for wildlife and are working to remove invasive plants and adding native plants, shrubs, and trees. We are thinning a densely planted fir tree stand and adding in forage for deer and elk. We are establishing permanent pollinator corridors with native plants, as well as incorporating annual pollinator friendly plants in our cultivated areas. We believe that a healthy, balanced ecosystem is a benefit to the farm.
The Enduring Hill
Our hill will long outlast us. In our role as its temporary stewards, we aim to farm in a manner that will have a positive and lasting effect on the land itself – leaving it better than we found it: healthy active soils, an improved water table, increased native biodiversity, and an improved ecosystem.
Perennial Hill, LLC 