Spring Flings at the Farm.
Feb 23, 2026
Farmer Adam
Throughout my career in agriculture, the end of February has marked an exciting time. I can feel the anticipation for Spring building as the last month of winter yields to longer and warmer days. This building of energy takes on a whole new level of expectation now that we have our own farm. The mind races to ensure every preparation is on schedule while the body yearns to end its winter dormancy and head outside. This year our focus is on building production and sales capacity while diversifying our operation for the future. With that in mind, I would like to share some of the activities we are looking forward to this Spring at River Forest Farms.
Over the past 18 months we have been transitioning a twelve acre field on the west side of our farm from decades of conventional row crop farming to biodiverse perennial pasture land for rotational grazing. We began this process by planting a cover crop of cereal rye immediately after the last corn crop was harvested in October 2024. We allowed this rye to grow through the first half of 2025 and mowed it down once it reached full maturity. This had the beneficial effects of covering the ground with a mat of straw to prevent weed germination and retain soil moisture while also spreading the seeds for growth in the future. Last October 2025 we seeded a biodiverse perennial pasture mix that included chicory, red clover, fescue, orchard grass and perennial rye. We saw good germination of this mix last Fall and are anxiously awaiting to see how it grows this Spring given the ample moisture we have received this Winter! Finally, this past December, we installed permanent exterior fencing around this field so we are ready for rotational grazing this Spring.
The east side of our farm is also readying for transition, albeit of a different nature. Here our land begins with a slow and steady decline towards blank creek through thick brush and low lying woodlands, before rising back up steeply to Hoosier National Forest land on the other side. All in all this adds up to around 75 acres of forested land, another valuable renewable resource we are blessed to have. It has been over 20 years since my grandfather last had a select cut done in this area, which means we are due for another timber harvest. As with the farm, we have taken the same ‘ecology-first’ approach to this project by working with a certified forester to ensure the long term health and resilience of our forest land. Most of this area is too steep to ever be put into agricultural production, however the flatter 15 acres west of blank creek will begin its transition into silvopasture with this timber harvest. This is a type of productive agricultural land that keeps mature trees at a wide enough spacing to allow light penetration to the forest floor to produce viable forage. Silvopasture achieves a harmonious balance allowing productive hardwood, nut, and fruit trees to flourish while providing natural shade to animals grazing and foraging below.
Another major goal we have this Spring is to begin diversifying our farm by adding cattle for 100% grass fed and finished beef. Our plan is to start with a few cow-calf pairs which we will rotationally graze in the same group with our grass fed ewes. There are several benefits to multi species grazing which we have learned from our mentors at Steckler Grassfed in Dale. One is that these animals serve as dead end hosts for different parasites that affect one species but not the other, breaking the parasite cycle to increase overall health. Another is that sheep and cattle prefer different plants when grazing, ensuring a more complete utilization of pasture. Also, from a business perspective, this enables us to offer our customers a new type of nutrient dense and regeneratively produced meat while providing new income streams from the same acre. Feeding out and finishing cattle on grass does take more time as compared to the conventional feedlot model so we want to get started as soon as possible!
We are extremely excited and grateful to announce that we have been accepted as farmer-members of Bloomington Farm Stop Collective! This will be our first retail partner where folks in the Bloomington and Monroe County area will be able to find our 100% grass fed lamb for sale. I highly recommend checking out their store on Kirkwood Ave just west of downtown Bloomington whenever you can. They are a cooperative that is collectively owned by over sixty local small farmers in southern Indiana focusing on regenerative-organic production. They offer a variety of grocery products such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, eggs, and honey while also selling prepared food, wellness items, and handcrafted goods. The store also includes a cafe with delicious baked goods, soups, sandwiches, and coffee. Everything about their operation aligns with our mission at River Forest Farms to provide people with nutrient dense, ethically produced food that heals and improves ecology while sharing the economic benefits collectively. Be on the lookout for another announcement from us as we close in on another retail partnership closer to home here in Perry County!