Transcript FULL CIRCLE FARM A visit to Nan Bonfils, Don Adams, and Harold Adams

A visit to
FULL CIRCLE FARM
Boone County, Iowa
Operated by Nan Bonfils, Don Adams,
and Harold Adams
May 16
Towards a Sustainable Agriculture
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Full Circle Farm as a
Sustainable
Agro-ecosystem
The farmers work with nature by:
• Capturing as much solar energy as possible while reducing
the use of fossil fuels
• Retaining and recycling nutrients on the farm and using
few purchased inputs
• Preserving and restoring natural habitats to protect water
quality and support wildlife
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Full Circle Farm as a
Sustainable
Local Food System
They are economically profitable and support
the community by:
• Raising value-added products such as forage fed beef, free-range eggs,
and organic vegetables
• Processing products locally
• Marketing directly to consumers and returning wastes to the farm for
composting
• Providing education and recreation opportunities
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Full Circle Farm’s
Grazing &
Grass-based Farming
Ruminant animals (cows, sheep) transform
the “free” solar energy captured in grass
into high value meat products.
Grass pastures hold the soil in place to
prevent erosion and also add diversity to the
farm.
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Grass captures
solar energy.
Cattle then
consume the
grass, fertilize
the pasture
with manure,
recycling plant
nutrients.
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Corn and
sorghum
are grown
together
in a mix
without
chemical
fertilizers or
pesticides.
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The use of movable
electric fence allows
cattle to strip-graze the
crop while it is still
in the field. This saves
the fuel and labor of
mechanical harvest.
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Even in winter
when grass is
not growing,
cows deposit
manure to
fertilize fields
and pastures.
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Steers are
processed at
the local
locker and
marketed
directly in the
community.
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Clun Forest sheep,
a hardy breed,
grow well on
forage, and
are processed
and sold locally.
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Eggs from
Red Star hens
that are fed
organically-grown
grain from the
farm provide
a year-round
product.
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Free-range eggs
are popular with
customers who
like that the hens
are not raised in
crowded cages
or fed
antibiotics.
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Food scraps from
a nearby camp are
brought to the farm
and composted.
The farm recovers
the food waste
nutrients, returning
them to the fields.
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Turning compost
adds oxygen
from the air to
help bacteria
decompose
materials and
cycle nutrients.
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Vegetables are
grown with
organic methods
to provide
local customers
with fresh,
farm-ripened
produce.
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Vegetables are
sold through
Full Circle
Farm’s CSA,
and to grocery
stores and
restaurants
in the area.
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Prairie plantings
provide wildlife
habitat.
These warm season
prairie grasses are
grazed by cattle
in the heat of summer.
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Woodlands
protect
water quality,
and provide
wildlife habitat
and firewood to
cut and sell to
nearby campers.
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The farm pond
is managed for
fishing and
recreation.
Water is used
to irrigate
vegetable crops
and water
livestock.
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Full Circle
Farm
is visited by
many people
for educational
field tours and
community
picnics.
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