Difference between revisions of "Jacob Springs Farm"

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'''Jacob Springs Farm''' is a [[beyond organic]], "[[everything farm]]" (description) located near Boulder, Colorado on the southeast corner of Arapahoe road and 75th street.
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[[File:Jacob Springs Farm Logo.jpg|thumb]]
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[[Image:Farm Dinner-61.jpg|thumb]]
  
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==Purpose==
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'''Jacob Springs''' is a diversified [[beyond organic]] farm, located near [[Boulder, Colorado]] on the southeast corner of Arapahoe road and 75th street just minutes from Boulder on the jump bus line. We specialize in grass-fed proteins. We have eggs, pork, beef, lamb and chicken, as well as grass-based milk from 13 lovely cows; fruit and vegetables [[Jacob Springs Farm:Seasonality | in season]], apples, beets, garlic, leeks, greens, [[comb honey]] from our [[Jacob Springs honey program|bees]] and plenty more. We manage around 450 acres.
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(mission and vision)
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[[Ethics]]>[[Farming principles|Principles]]>[[Strategies]]>[[Techniques]]
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We are passionate advocates of [[Regenerative Grazing]] and we are actively researching and developing techniques and technology for [[Subsistance farming|subsistence farmers]] worldwide. In close cooperation with [[Sambah Naturals|Zambeezi]], we created a co-op with nearly 1,200 small-scale farmers in Zambia, Africa to improve their productivity and sustainability. We are currently ten people and a couple of dogs, led by Hazel an [[English Shepherd]]. We enjoy sharing meals together a few times a week.
 +
Recently our farm has been awarded the lease on a wonderful City of Boulder OSMP property after several years of battling serious issues with the [[City of Boulder OSMP Bidding Process]]!
  
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==History==
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"What's with your website?" Our [[RAWiki project]] aims to make detailed information about regenerative agriculture available to other farms
  
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[[Jacob Springs Farm]] was founded by [[André Houssney|André]] and [[Vanee Houssney|Vanee]] Houssney in the summer of 2010 when they bought the [[Condon/Debaker]] property close to Boulder. Prior to the purchase, the farm, located at [[Jacob's Corner]], had been named [[Cottonwood Farm]] after a row of giant cottonwood trees which had been planted along Arapahoe Road (originally called Valley Road) in the 1860's. Since the cottonwoods were now gone, having been cut down in 2005 when Arapahoe Road was widened, and since the Condon Family had chosen to continue using the name "[[Cottonwood Farm]]" on land they lease from the Jacobs family to the West of 75th street.
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==Farm programs==
  
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==Current people==
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[[File:VeronicaInSpring.jpg|thumb]]
  
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*[[André Houssney]] - lead farmer
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You can access all of Jacob Springs' amazing products at our members-only [[Jacob Springs Farm Store]] (opening April 2024) located on the home farm property at 7602 Arapahoe.
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*[[Vanee Houssney]] - communication and administration
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*[[Daniel Rankin]] - technology and [[farm hackerspace]] director
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*[[Philip Romako]] - dairyman
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*[[Kierstyn Bristol]] - herdsman
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==Philosophy==
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As a diversified, "[[everything farm]]" , Jacob Springs organizes it's production into various [[Jacob Springs Farm Store|farm programs]];
  
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===Labor===
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Currently the major farm programs for customers are the [[Meat CSA|'''Jacob Springs Farm Meat CSA''']], the [[Jacob Springs raw milk program|'''Raw Milk Shares''']], [[Jacob Springs grains program|heirloom grains]] in cooperation with Moxie Bakery and the Colorado grain Chain,  [[Jacob Springs honey program|'''Honey''']], amazing [[Jacob Springs pork program|'''pastured pork''']]  and specialty vegetable crops as available, as well as our self-serve [[Jacob Springs layer feed program|'''Organic layer feed''' for chickens and ducks]] Call or email us for more information. farmteam (at) Jacobsprings.com
  
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*Labor and rest - We believe that hard work is good. Work is a necessity, not only for survival but for people to reach their highest potential. At the same time we believe that rest is essential for humans to thrive (main article:[[Sabbath]]). The fourth commandment of the law of Moses, as recorded in the [[Bible]] reads "Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath." In farming, there is always more work to be done, it can therefore be easy for work to consume all your time. Although this may seem to be productive, there comes a point where constant work degrades the effectiveness of the worker and the discipline of rest must be observed to keep the worker sharp. More commonly perhaps, people are inclined to be unproductive, excessive rest or recreation is dulling to the senses and reduces the productive output of a life. We acknowledge the ancient wisdom of "Six days you shall labor" ''and'' "Remember the sabbath"
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A full list of current and past programs is found [[List of Jacob Springs Farm programs| here]]:
  
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*Dull work is not just for dull people
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==History==
  
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*[[How to make a mistake]]
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[[Jacob Springs Farm]] was founded by [[André Houssney|Andre Houssney]] in the spring of 2010 with the purchase of the Condon/Debaker property close to Boulder. Prior to the purchase, the farm, located at [[Jacob's Corner]], had been named "Cottonwood Farm" after a row of giant cottonwood trees which had been planted along Arapahoe Road (originally called Valley Road) in the 1860's. Since the cottonwoods were now gone, having been cut down in 2005 when Arapahoe Road was widened, and since the Condon Family had chosen to continue using the name "Cottonwood Farm" on land they lease from the Jacobs family to the West of 75th street.
  
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==Farm programs==
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[[Naming Jacob Springs Farm|The name "Jacob Springs Farm"]] was chosen to recognize the Jacobs family who had long farmed at this intersection, to recognize farm's location at Jacob's Corner, the springs of water on the property  - including the one at Jacob's corner and to recognize the Biblical story of Jacob's Spring in the book of John chapter 4.
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As a diversified farm, Jacob Springs organizes it's production into various [[farm programs]]; a list of current and past programs follows:
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===Meat===
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==Daily Schedule==
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*[[Meat CSA|'''Jacob Springs Farm Meat CSA''']]
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*[[Jacob Springs beef program|'''Beef program''']] ([[locker beef]], breeding stock and [[Jacob Springs Farm Meat CSA|Meat CSA]])
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The farm schedule begins each day Monday through Saturday at dawn (see [[Jacob Springs dawn start times]] calendar) with a 15-20 minute meeting prior to chores. Volunteers, wwoofers, and farm team members are expected to attend. Chores follow the meeting. Workers are invited to join in a (typically) wonderful breakfast following chores. Over breakfast, we typically engage in an informal discussion topic. After breakfast, special projects continue until 11 or noon.
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*[[Jacob Springs pork program|'''Pork program''']] ([[locker pork]], [[Colorado Mutle]] breeding stock and [[Jacob Springs Farm Meat CSA|Meat CSA]])
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*[[Jacob Springs lamb program| '''Lamb program''']] ([[locker lamb]], and [[Jacob Springs Farm Meat CSA|Meat CSA]])
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*[[Jacob Springs broiler production| '''Broiler chicken program''']] ([[live sales]], and [[Jacob Springs Farm Meat CSA|Meat CSA]])
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*[[Jacob Springs Duck production| '''Meat Duck program''']] ([[live sales]] and breeding stock)
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*[[Jacob Springs goat program| Goat program]] ([[pack goats]]) and [[locker trade]]
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*[[Thanksgiving turkey]]
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*[[Christmas goose]]
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*[[Jacob Springs rabbit production| '''Rabbit program''']]
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===Other livestock===
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===see also===
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*[[Jacob Springs Raw Milk Program|'''Raw Milk Shares''']] ([[Jersey]] breeding stock and [[Jacob Springs beef production|Beef program]])
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*[[What to expect for WWOOFers | What to expect for volunteers]]
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*[[Jacob Springs egg program|'''Chicken eggs''']]
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*[[What to expect for WWOOFers]]
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*[[Jacob Springs Duck egg program|'''Duck eggs''']]
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*[https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=KCOBOULD417&cm_ven=localwx_pwsdash#history/s20180512/e20180519/mweek Current weather]
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*[[Jacob Springs honey program|'''Honey''']] ([[topbar hive]] production of [[comb honey]])
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*A few years ago our farm was awarded the lease on a wonderful City of Boulder OSMP property after several years of battling serious issues with the [[City of Boulder OSMP Bidding Process]]!
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*[[Jacob Springs package bees program|'''Package bees program''']]
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*'''[[Incubation]]'''
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===Perennials===
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==Philosophy==
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*[[Jacob Springs fruit tree program|'''Fruit Trees''']]
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We take nature as the best model for our ecosystem design. Informed by technology, science, traditional agricultural practices from around the globe, principles of permaculture and regenerative grazing as promoted by [[Allan Savory]] and [https://savory.global the Savory Institute] we attempt to create a wholistic, financially viable and ecologically sound human community around food production and land restoration.
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*[[Herbs]]
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*[[Fruit]]
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===Annual crops===
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Agriculture is the primary way humans interact with the ecosystem. As such, it is key to many of the global problems we face. We are currently challenged with problems of the poor quality of food, poor profitability for small-scale farmers, the need to increase production for a growing population, problems with pollution and waste, declining biodiversity and climate change.
  
−
===Animal Feed===
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We believe that the solutions for the problems in agriculture are fundamentally ecological and not technological. Technology can help! Innovative solutions, such as those developed in our [[Agronimo|farm maker-space]] initiative [[Agronimo]] can assist us in applying ecological solutions to local and global problems, and science informs and enables us to better understand and vet solutions to these problems. There is much, however, that we still don't know - gleaming aquaponic warehouses and synthetic meat growing in petri dishes are not viable solutions, indeed they are further steps in the wrong, reductionist and simplistic directions that we have been heading as a society. We, instead, look to solutions from nature, supported by technology.  Natural systems are productive, complex, high-tech and balanced.  As we observe the patterns in nature and seek to emulate them, we are taking a shortcut in the right direction, we believe that studying nature enables us to begin learning to think the thoughts of the creator.  This is what we mean by  [[farming God's way.]]  This principle prompts us to seek out solutions in farming principles such as [[Permaculture]], [[Holistic Range Management]], and many others.
  
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*[[Jacob Springs layer feed program|'''Layer feed''']]
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We have a complex definition for success but our shorthand version for ecological success is simple:
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*[[Jacob Springs hay program|'''Hay''']]
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===Carpentry===
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# Observe an increase in biodiversity over time, in soil microbes, in livestock genetic diversity, in plant life and in wildlife.
 +
# Observe an increase in soil fertility over time, including an increase of soil organic matter (soil carbon) which means a decrease in atmospheric carbon.
  
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*[[Jacob Springs topbar hives|Building topbar hives]]
 
  
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==Pricing==
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Other goals are:
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The [[JacobSpringsFarm: price list| Jacob Springs price list]] is a reference for what things should cost in our market. Note that the list is not intended to be a list of what we sell or have in stock, is subject to change without notice and it does not constitute an offer but it is for reference only.
+
  
−
==Kolb Property bid==
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*to maximize biomass production and carbon uptake
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Jacob Springs Farm
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*to maximize carbon sequestration
 +
*to minimize use of energy and materials, especially non-renewable forms
 +
*to increase water retention capability of landscapes; in soils, biomass and in surface features.
  
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We are a diversified, beyond organic, local farm just minutes from Boulder on Arapahoe. We specialize in grass fed proteins. We have eggs, beef, lamb, pork chicken, rabbit and duck as well as grass-based milk from three lovely cows;
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===Values===
  
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(improve blurb)
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We exist to love and serve by:
 +
*Loving and caring for our human inheritance, God's creation
 +
*Loving and caring for others; customers, fellow workers, local and global community though compassion and good food
 +
*Living joyfully, honestly and well, to make a living and care for ourselves
  
 +
==Goals==
 +
*Education of young farmers through [[WWOOF]] and internships
 +
*Demonstration of a model of [[profitability]] in regenerative family farming
 +
*Production of [[quality|high quality products]] that are healthy and nutrient dense
 +
*[[JacobSpringsFarm:Goals#Ecological_Restoration|Ecological restoration]] of our property as well as adjacent and leased land
 +
*Achievement of a high level of [[animal well-being]] through reproducible animal husbandry practices
 +
*Refinement of our [[target market]] through CSA, direct sales, and other means
 +
*[[People care]] including health and safety, work satisfaction, spiritual well-being, team dynamics and morale
 +
*Demonstration of the [[Kingdom of God]] through Christian community, [[love|Ethics]] and service
  
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People:
+
===Labor===
  
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Andre Houssney - Farmer
+
*Dull work is not just for dull people. Many of the worlds best ideas came to people working dull jobs, lots of our labor is boring, it's true, but this frees our minds to contemplate deeper things for many more hours a week than the typical worker within an information economy. We strive to take pleasure in the routine and boring aspects of farming, just as in the exciting and stimulating ones.
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Danny Rankin - Internship Coordinator and  
+
−
Ethan Eakin - Herdsman
+
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Kierstyn Burton - Dairy and Quality Control Manager
+
  
−
Goals and Programs for the Property:
+
*Labor and rest for land and people - We believe that hard work is good. Productivity is a necessity, not only for survival but for people and land to reach their highest potential. At the same time we believe that rest is essential for humans to thrive (main article:[[Sabbath]]) and rest is also one of the most powerful tools we have for soil and pastures. The fourth commandment of the law of Moses, as recorded in the [[Bible]] reads "Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath." In farming, there is always more work to be done, it can therefore be easy for work to consume all your time. Although this may seem to be productive, there comes a point where constant work degrades the effectiveness of the worker and the discipline of rest must be observed to keep the worker sharp. Land also is frequently overworked, and pastures overgrazed. More commonly perhaps, people are inclined to be unproductive, excessive rest or recreation is dulling to the senses and reduces the productive output of a life. We acknowledge the ancient wisdom of "Six days you shall labor" ''and'' "Remember the sabbath". We attempt to understand and apply the principles and rhythms of fallowing ground and rotating stock for the long-term benefit of the whole. .
  
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Rotational Grazing -
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*[[How to make a mistake]] is one of our guiding principles for how to work together.
−
We are passionate advocates of intensive rotational grazing of livestock as one of the best “win-win” situations in agriculture. We believe that rotational grazing, properly implemented, has the potential to increase farm profits and  achieve environmental goals of carbon sequestration while building up soil fertility and increasing biodiversity. We are eager to put this conviction to the test in controlled and measured experiments. We also aim to demonstrate the bottom-line benefits to other farmers and ranchers through a partnership with Boulder’s own Savory Institute, the world’s premier advocates for Holistic Management and regenerative grazing. With the lease of the Kolb property we intend to work towards becoming a Savory “hub” farm - a site which demonstrates Savory-style livestock management and serves as a training and demonstration location for promoting regenerative grazing to interested farmers and ranchers. Over the past five years, Jacob Springs Farm has been somewhat stymied in effectively demonstrating the benefits of these systems due to it’s difficulty in obtaining consistent access to land. Since we only own 3 acres of pasture, the farm has relied on around 80 - 100 acres of private leases for grazing land and hay. On several occasions we have upgraded fencing and spent considerable time beginning the process of restoring degraded land only to lose the leases as land owners opted to go in a different direction with their newly valuable pastures or to sell their property. We are looking forward to gaining a measure of tenure that would enable us to realize the benefits of this style of management.  
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With a successful bid for the City of Boulder's Kolb property, we intend initially to convert a significant portion (roughly 20 acres) of the hayfields into rotationally managed pasture. We would then build up our herd numbers and develop the fencing and watering infrastructure to convert additional hay ground at that location into pasture over a few years. Ideally, if we were able to acquire rights to other hay properties offsite, we would likely convert all Kolb property hay ground into pasture over time. Concurrent with the conversion of hay ground into pasture we would like to develop a program for monitoring soil organic matter and pasture and riparian biodiversity in a variety of locations over time to establish the effect that rotational grazing has on those parameters.
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==Pricing==
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The [[JacobSpringsFarm: price list| Jacob Springs price list]] is a reference for what things should cost in our market. Note that the list is not intended to be a list of what we sell or have in stock, is subject to change without notice and it does not constitute an offer but it is for reference only.
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Our rotational grazing program would include cattle, sheep and poultry using portable electric fencing to confine the livestock to just enough pasture for optimal grazing to achieve the correct amount of grazing pressure on the pasture, to strictly limit the grazing duration and maximize the recovery period for each area of pasture. At times we may combine the sheep and cattle into a single “flerd" (mixed cattle and sheep flock and herd) to maximize utilization of all pasture species, at other times we may separate the species into a flock and a herd grazing 180° opposite in the rotation to maximize the time interval between successive grazings by the same species in order to naturally reduce species-specific parasite loads in the livestock.
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Grazing poultry could take three different forms: egg production flocks using “eggmobiles", meat chicken production in movable grazing shelters, and, rarely, specialty meat poultry production in portable electric fence grazing units (geese, ducks and turkeys). Eggmobiles will typically follow the cattle rotation a few days behind, reducing fly populations by eating the hatching fly larvae, spreading manure and producing eggs. We envision a likely maximum of 3 eggmobiles each containing around 200 laying hens. Meat poultry in grazing shelters will likely be a minor program of the farm with fewer than half a dozen movable shelters for the first few years. Specialty poultry production will be seasonal, focusing on providing the community with a limited number of high quality turkeys for Thanksgiving and geese for Christmas and Hanukah celebrations.
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Seasonal Dairy -
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Drawing from principles of permaculture, our farming philosophy is to stack functions, building multiple streams of income and obtaining multiple yields from each component of the farm. As advocates of smaller diversified farms we rely economies of scope, rather than economies of scale, to achieve financial success. To this end we look more to the business models of older American and contemporary European farming systems than to our North American “scale up” paradigm. One important aspect of farm income as we envision it on the Kolb property is to stack the functions of the cow-calf operation and the dairy through seasonal milking of dual-purpose cattle. In this model (which is almost totally foreign in our context) shortly after calving in the spring we would begin once-a-day milking of our mother cow herd. These cows would be fed little to no grain or concentrated feeds and will be grazing normally with the rest of the herd. The high quality milk will then be used daily in producing cheese for aging. Rather than milking year-round as in conventional dairies, we would only continue to milk our cows for a few months while the rapidly growing pasture plants thrive. In hot and dry years, this may be as little as three months, in cooler, wetter years such as 2014, milking may continue into October or November. This method achieves several goals simultaneously - quality is maximized as the milk produced by healthy, grass-fed cows is superior for cheese making to conventional milk. Animal health and fertility is promoted as lactating cows are “ died up” for extended recovery times during the winter. Weaning weights and health of young calves are expected to be excellent when raised on their mothers milk. Both the internal and externalized costs of feed grains are eliminated since purchased feeds are not used; this reduces both the off farm environmental impacts of grain production and the on farm waste management issues associated with conventional dairies. In order to make this vision possible at the Kolb property, we envision performing modest repairs and improvements to the existing 12 stanchion dairy parlor, possible upgrades to the electrical service to enable installation of our milking machine (currently Jacob Springs has one milking machine installed and in use and another reserve pump, suitable for use at the Kolb property, in storage) significant roofing and structural repairs to the cattle sheds and totally rebuilding the pens outside the dairy parlor. Long term, we envision possible repair and restoration of the silo for use to store silage or haylage for winter fodder. Jacob Springs currently manages a herd of three seasonal dairy cows with a raw milk share program and limited cheese-making; A successful bid for the Kolb property would enable us to expand this program and make it a viable source of farm income.
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+
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Hay -
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Jacob Springs Farm has the equipment and capabilities needed to produce quality irrigated grass hay and alfalfa. In 2014 we cut, raked, and baled approximately 35 acres of hay using our own equipment. This was enough to provide for our own livestock as well as for external sale. The Kolb property would allow us to expand hay production in the short term. In our observation, despite it’s excellent water rights, favorable ditch setup, and suitable stands of alfalfa, the property has been underutilized in terms of it’s capability to produce quality hay. We intend to irrigate more frequently and attempt three or four cuttings per season. Our intention would be to transition the entire property to organic management (although we have not yet decided if we will pursue organic certification) and market the hay to local buyers such as horse owners. Over time, we would aim to decrease the portion of the property used to produce hay and increase the portion used as pasture provided we could retain current hay leases and obtain additional leases of hay ground at other locations.
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Field Crops & Pastured Pork -
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Currently, the Kolb property contains just over 10 acres of tilled, irrigated crop land. This field has been a source of frustration for us at Jacob Springs as spraying in that field is the suspected source of instances of colony loss in our beehives in 2014 and 2012. Spraying of corn growing in this field has coincided with loss of 2/3rds of our honey bee colonies in each of those two years. During the 2013 season, barley was grown which did not have any detectable impact on our honeybee colonies. We are eager to see that field converted to production methods that do not involve spraying pesticides, herbicides or fungicides which can be fatal to bees and detrimental to our local environment.
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Jacob Springs Farm would be interested in using the Kolb property’s tilled ground to pursue a number of different organically-grown field crops intended for local market including beets, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic and squash. In our analysis, the market for local produce is underserved in these crops which have the potential to be sold well into the winter through use of energy efficient root cellar storage. Our approach would be to focus on 2-3 of these crops each year and develop a scaled-down, field-crop approach rather than the "scaled-up gardening” which so many of the market gardens in our area utilize. This would involve furrow irrigation, rather than the energy and materials intensive drip irrigation systems in common use, and would rely on mechanical tillage as well as manual weeding to suppress weeds. in 2014 we successfully trialled this approach on a half-acre of certified organic squash grown near Niwot. We were satisfied with our crop which we marketed through Alfalfa’s market. In rotation with the storage vegetable portion of the field we would include crops into rotation intended to provide weed suppression and build soil fertility - possibilities for this portion of the rotation include rye, vetch, or winter wheat for a fall sown cover crop, and barley, clover or cowpeas for a spring sown cover crop - these crops would then either be harvested (in the case of rye, wheat, barley or cowpeas) or grazed down using our herbivores. This has an advantage over plowing the cover-crop under in that the livestock still improve soil fertility to the field while obtaining an additional cycle out of them
+
  
 +
==Infrastructure==
 +
See main article: [[Infrastructure]]
  
 
==Administrative Stuff==
 
==Administrative Stuff==
 +
To contribute a todo/administrative note for morning meeting (not anonymous!), text [[File:Morning_meeting_number_spamresistant.png]]. Your message and phone number will be visible to everyone at the meeting.
  
 +
#[[Jacob Springs Farm:Seasonality]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:Weekly agenda]]
 
#[[JacobSpringsFarm: to do lists]]
 
#[[JacobSpringsFarm: to do lists]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:breeding records]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:weather observations]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:Kolb bid]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:Food Inventories]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:Goals]]
 +
#[[Andre log]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:Calendars]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:FunnyQuotes | Funny Quotes]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:Discussion Topics]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:Value added log]]
 +
#[[JacobSpringsFarm:Maintenance Record]]

Latest revision as of 12:47, 25 March 2024

Jacob Springs Farm Logo.jpg
Farm Dinner-61.jpg

Jacob Springs is a diversified beyond organic farm, located near Boulder, Colorado on the southeast corner of Arapahoe road and 75th street just minutes from Boulder on the jump bus line. We specialize in grass-fed proteins. We have eggs, pork, beef, lamb and chicken, as well as grass-based milk from 13 lovely cows; fruit and vegetables in season, apples, beets, garlic, leeks, greens, comb honey from our bees and plenty more. We manage around 450 acres.

We are passionate advocates of Regenerative Grazing and we are actively researching and developing techniques and technology for subsistence farmers worldwide. In close cooperation with Zambeezi, we created a co-op with nearly 1,200 small-scale farmers in Zambia, Africa to improve their productivity and sustainability. We are currently ten people and a couple of dogs, led by Hazel an English Shepherd. We enjoy sharing meals together a few times a week. Recently our farm has been awarded the lease on a wonderful City of Boulder OSMP property after several years of battling serious issues with the City of Boulder OSMP Bidding Process!

"What's with your website?" Our RAWiki project aims to make detailed information about regenerative agriculture available to other farms

Farm programs

VeronicaInSpring.jpg

You can access all of Jacob Springs' amazing products at our members-only Jacob Springs Farm Store (opening April 2024) located on the home farm property at 7602 Arapahoe.

As a diversified, "everything farm" , Jacob Springs organizes it's production into various farm programs;

Currently the major farm programs for customers are the Jacob Springs Farm Meat CSA, the Raw Milk Shares, heirloom grains in cooperation with Moxie Bakery and the Colorado grain Chain, Honey, amazing pastured pork and specialty vegetable crops as available, as well as our self-serve Organic layer feed for chickens and ducks Call or email us for more information. farmteam (at) Jacobsprings.com

A full list of current and past programs is found here:

History

Jacob Springs Farm was founded by Andre Houssney in the spring of 2010 with the purchase of the Condon/Debaker property close to Boulder. Prior to the purchase, the farm, located at Jacob's Corner, had been named "Cottonwood Farm" after a row of giant cottonwood trees which had been planted along Arapahoe Road (originally called Valley Road) in the 1860's. Since the cottonwoods were now gone, having been cut down in 2005 when Arapahoe Road was widened, and since the Condon Family had chosen to continue using the name "Cottonwood Farm" on land they lease from the Jacobs family to the West of 75th street.

The name "Jacob Springs Farm" was chosen to recognize the Jacobs family who had long farmed at this intersection, to recognize farm's location at Jacob's Corner, the springs of water on the property - including the one at Jacob's corner and to recognize the Biblical story of Jacob's Spring in the book of John chapter 4.

Daily Schedule

The farm schedule begins each day Monday through Saturday at dawn (see Jacob Springs dawn start times calendar) with a 15-20 minute meeting prior to chores. Volunteers, wwoofers, and farm team members are expected to attend. Chores follow the meeting. Workers are invited to join in a (typically) wonderful breakfast following chores. Over breakfast, we typically engage in an informal discussion topic. After breakfast, special projects continue until 11 or noon.

see also

Philosophy

We take nature as the best model for our ecosystem design. Informed by technology, science, traditional agricultural practices from around the globe, principles of permaculture and regenerative grazing as promoted by Allan Savory and the Savory Institute we attempt to create a wholistic, financially viable and ecologically sound human community around food production and land restoration.

Agriculture is the primary way humans interact with the ecosystem. As such, it is key to many of the global problems we face. We are currently challenged with problems of the poor quality of food, poor profitability for small-scale farmers, the need to increase production for a growing population, problems with pollution and waste, declining biodiversity and climate change.

We believe that the solutions for the problems in agriculture are fundamentally ecological and not technological. Technology can help! Innovative solutions, such as those developed in our farm maker-space initiative Agronimo can assist us in applying ecological solutions to local and global problems, and science informs and enables us to better understand and vet solutions to these problems. There is much, however, that we still don't know - gleaming aquaponic warehouses and synthetic meat growing in petri dishes are not viable solutions, indeed they are further steps in the wrong, reductionist and simplistic directions that we have been heading as a society. We, instead, look to solutions from nature, supported by technology. Natural systems are productive, complex, high-tech and balanced. As we observe the patterns in nature and seek to emulate them, we are taking a shortcut in the right direction, we believe that studying nature enables us to begin learning to think the thoughts of the creator. This is what we mean by farming God's way. This principle prompts us to seek out solutions in farming principles such as Permaculture, Holistic Range Management, and many others.

We have a complex definition for success but our shorthand version for ecological success is simple:

  1. Observe an increase in biodiversity over time, in soil microbes, in livestock genetic diversity, in plant life and in wildlife.
  2. Observe an increase in soil fertility over time, including an increase of soil organic matter (soil carbon) which means a decrease in atmospheric carbon.


Other goals are:

  • to maximize biomass production and carbon uptake
  • to maximize carbon sequestration
  • to minimize use of energy and materials, especially non-renewable forms
  • to increase water retention capability of landscapes; in soils, biomass and in surface features.

Values

We exist to love and serve by:

  • Loving and caring for our human inheritance, God's creation
  • Loving and caring for others; customers, fellow workers, local and global community though compassion and good food
  • Living joyfully, honestly and well, to make a living and care for ourselves

Goals

  • Education of young farmers through WWOOF and internships
  • Demonstration of a model of profitability in regenerative family farming
  • Production of high quality products that are healthy and nutrient dense
  • Ecological restoration of our property as well as adjacent and leased land
  • Achievement of a high level of animal well-being through reproducible animal husbandry practices
  • Refinement of our target market through CSA, direct sales, and other means
  • People care including health and safety, work satisfaction, spiritual well-being, team dynamics and morale
  • Demonstration of the Kingdom of God through Christian community, Ethics and service

Labor

  • Dull work is not just for dull people. Many of the worlds best ideas came to people working dull jobs, lots of our labor is boring, it's true, but this frees our minds to contemplate deeper things for many more hours a week than the typical worker within an information economy. We strive to take pleasure in the routine and boring aspects of farming, just as in the exciting and stimulating ones.
  • Labor and rest for land and people - We believe that hard work is good. Productivity is a necessity, not only for survival but for people and land to reach their highest potential. At the same time we believe that rest is essential for humans to thrive (main article:Sabbath) and rest is also one of the most powerful tools we have for soil and pastures. The fourth commandment of the law of Moses, as recorded in the Bible reads "Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath." In farming, there is always more work to be done, it can therefore be easy for work to consume all your time. Although this may seem to be productive, there comes a point where constant work degrades the effectiveness of the worker and the discipline of rest must be observed to keep the worker sharp. Land also is frequently overworked, and pastures overgrazed. More commonly perhaps, people are inclined to be unproductive, excessive rest or recreation is dulling to the senses and reduces the productive output of a life. We acknowledge the ancient wisdom of "Six days you shall labor" and "Remember the sabbath". We attempt to understand and apply the principles and rhythms of fallowing ground and rotating stock for the long-term benefit of the whole. .

Pricing

The Jacob Springs price list is a reference for what things should cost in our market. Note that the list is not intended to be a list of what we sell or have in stock, is subject to change without notice and it does not constitute an offer but it is for reference only.

Infrastructure

See main article: Infrastructure

Administrative Stuff

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  1. Jacob Springs Farm:Seasonality
  2. JacobSpringsFarm:Weekly agenda
  3. JacobSpringsFarm: to do lists
  4. JacobSpringsFarm:breeding records
  5. JacobSpringsFarm:weather observations
  6. JacobSpringsFarm:Kolb bid
  7. JacobSpringsFarm:Food Inventories
  8. JacobSpringsFarm:Goals
  9. Andre log
  10. JacobSpringsFarm:Calendars
  11. Funny Quotes
  12. JacobSpringsFarm:Discussion Topics
  13. JacobSpringsFarm:Value added log
  14. JacobSpringsFarm:Maintenance Record
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