Whole Farm Organism by Abigail Porter

The interview by Abigail Porter follows the Hack family farm in Ontario as a whole farm organism. The family describes building fertility with cattle manure compost, crop rotations, legumes and cover crops, hedgerows, and biodynamic preparations, including Barrel Compost (sold by JPI as Barrel Compound), BD 500, BD 501, and BD 508.

At the time of the interview, the Hack family described making about 1,000 tons of compost each year and applying 5–7 tons per acre to roughly 150–200 acres. Legume cover crops, crop rotation, livestock manure, and biodynamic preparations connected soil fertility with its grain and cattle program.

The family describes using Barrel Compost (sold by JPI as Barrel Compound), the BD 502–507 compost preparations, BD 500 Horn Manure, BD 501 Horn Silica, and BD 508 Horsetail alongside compost, legumes, and crop rotation. The interview shows how those preparations fit into a working grain-and-cattle farm.

Use the Download the Article PDF link directly above these FAQs. It opens the five-page December 2016 Acres U.S.A. reprint of the Abigail Porter interview with Uli Hack, adapted from Applied Biodynamics Spring 2014 issue 84.