Regenerative Farming

ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY

Our Growing Practices

Here at Isham Family Farm, we want to preserve the beauty of our natural environment as much as possible. Mike Isham and Helen Weston are the 5^th generation Ishams to steward the Isham Family Farm in Williston, Vermont. Together, they have made it their life’s work to find innovative ways to help the environment flourish on their property and beyond. They feel that their land is a tool to bring forth environmental awareness and responsibility; for themselves, their livelihood and for the community at large.

We have never sprayed insecticides here at the farm. Spraying for harmful bugs kills all bugs, including the good ones. We encourage ladybugs and other good bugs to control the bad bugs. We also use our chickens for pest control and fertilizer by moving their chicken tractors around the berry patches.

THE FARM IS ALIVE 

Ecological Impact

A few of the many environmental practices on the farm are as follows:

• Delayed Meadow Mowing
• Environmental Co-existing Christmas Tree farming
• Bird-Friendly Maple Sugaring
• Pollinator Gardening
• Butterfly Gardening
• Protected and Natural Forest, Meadow and Pond Management
• Sustainable Forestry
• Outdoor environmental classes/field trips/studies
  

THIS IS A DIVERSIFIED, WORKING LANDSCAPE

Furthering Regenerative Farming

Currently, we do not grow produce or raise animals for protein here at the farm. As we expand what we offer and grow, we will strive to make it follow regenerative practices as much as possible by working with the natural ecosystem and not using pesticides and other harmful chemicals on our grounds. Should we begin growing produce to sell, we will work to build healthy soil so as to grow nutrient-dense foods. We want to be caretakers of the environment adding to our earth and not taking away.

Our trees are full of birds because of bugs and Monarch butterflies are numerous and healthy because of the milkweed. Our berries are so delicious because the bees pollinate the blossoms. Many of the weeds have beautiful flowers that also support our bee population. Our sugarbush is also bird-friendly and Isham Family Farm participates in the Vermont Audubon Bird-Friendly Maple Project.