our pursuit

Franklin Forest Farm is building longstanding perennial food systems that benefit the health of the land it uses. We consider matters such as soil health, inter-species relationships, sound forestry practices, climate instability, unintended consequences, and the like. By integrating regenerative agroforestry practices, permaculture principles, biodynamic and korean natural farming techniques, we conscientiously shape some and rewild other parts of the land. It is important to us to both support the health of preexisting ecosystems, as well as create the conditions for new ones to evolve. We are in constant collaboration with nature.

Extending beyond our own 25-acre site, we want to offer others, through events and our nursery, the materials and resources to do similarly. Contributing to our greater community is very important to us. In the years to come, we hope to share these resources through our forthcoming events, forest school, and artist-in-residence program.

We aim to…

  • build healthy soil through regenerative, sustainable practices

    Using as much on-site material and fertility as possible, we make our own garden fertilizers and amendments for plant nutrition and pest management. We gather/multiply billions of microbes from surrounding healthy ecosystems and introduce them into our soil. We also grow certain plants that have high and diverse mineral content, such as nettles and dandelions, to extract nutrients from. Over the next decade, we plan to implement rotational grazing practices through alleys of trees, shrubs, and perennials.

  • feed our community

    Franklin Forest Farm has plans to build a small farmstand on site, a CSA program, and sell both produce and shelf-stable products to local businesses. We want to offer our community traditional and nontraditional food crops that are hardy to our climate. The goal is to eventually offer many nuts, fruits, perennial vegetables, and pasture-raised meat and eggs as our operation grows and matures.

  • help others gain food independence and greater resiliency

    Through our nursery, we sell native and cultivar trees, shrubs, and perennials. In addition to foraging seeds for biodiversity and spreading the population of plants native to our area, we plan to breed our own varieties that are adapted to our Northeastern Climate.

  • strengthen preexisting ecosystems

    Our site has established wetland, woodland, and meadow ecosystems. We are dedicated to tending to and expanding our native plant and fungi populations. In turn, this creates an abundance of important food resources and habitats for insects, reptilians, amphibians, birds, and animals.

  • educate the next generation and promote nature-based art practices

    We hope to eventually offer forest school programs in the future. Forest School offers opportunities for children to develop lasting relationships with nature, a deeper imagination, greater independence, and important problem-solving and motor skills. We have also had a few artists-in-residence on our farm. The off-grid artist residency gives practicing artists a chance to unplug and reconnect with natural materials and the landscape.