Farm Description
Natural Features:
Wenas Creek, a fish-bearing stream that runs to the Yakima River, flows through the property. About twenty-three of the farm's eighty-three total acres is composed of floodplain and has little slope other than the banks of the creek itself. Natural vegetation buffers of native trees, shrubs, and other plants are present along the creek. A few natural springs are also present on the property. Approximately forty-eight acres are native sagebrush-steppe ecosystem with bitterbrush, sagebrush, Ponderosa pine, and aspen associated plant communities. The area occurs in a rich biological transition zone. The well cared for native plant communities and additional native species floral plantings on the farm provide a rich mix of habitats that furnish home and provender for an incredible diversity of wildlife species. All the native ecosystems on and surrounding the farm are healthy climax ecosystems.
Elevation of the farm's surface location varies from approximately 2,000 to 2,300 feet with topographic surface features that differ greatly. Slopes on the farm vary from zero to up to sixty-five percent slopes on the north, east, south, and west land faces.
Soil types on the farm are Wenas silt loam, Cleman very fine sandy loam, Taneum loam, and McDaniel very stony loam as shown by the USDA Soil Conservation Service's Soil Survey of Yakima County Area, Washington. The sheer bulk of those portions of the farm that are utilized for growing cultivated crops occurs on what soil scientists consider to be prime farmland soils.
Those soils that are cultivated are periodically enriched in our farming practices by incorporating plant matter. Rye grain, winter peas, hairy vetch, and buckwheat are grown for such purpose and tilled into the soil to add nutrients and keep organic matter content high. This method also provides weed control. Many additional concepts of organic farming, sustainable agriculture, and permaculture are integrated to provide crop enhancement and a healthy environment. Approximately 35 acres of the overall farm produce cultivated crops.
Current market crops grown on the farm include grass and alfalfa/grass hay and medicinal herbs. Thus far the herbs produced are Echinacea, goldenseal, and catnip. Farm personnel have plans to expand into additional crops in the future.