Hoof Beet Farm field day will showcase draft power, poultry systems and small-scale vegetable production – Aug. 27, Dallas Center

Contacts:

Kelly Clime | Hoof Beet Farm | (515) 809-2338 | hoofbeetfarm@gmail.com | facebook.com/HBFarmIowa

Tamsyn Jones | Outreach & Publications Coordinator | Practical Farmers of Iowa | (515) 232-5661 | tamsyn@practicalfarmers.org

DALLAS CENTER, Iowa — Once common on Iowa farms, it’s rare today to see draft animals doing field work in Iowa. Near Dallas Center, however, Hoof Beet Farm continues to use draft-pony power – and everything from fertilization to pollination and draft power is provided by livestock on the farm.

For Kelly Clime, the farmer behind Hoof Beet Farm, this animal labor is central to her goal of building sustainability through diversity. Kelly operates a small-scale vegetable farm, raising a mix of new vegetable hybrids and heirloom varieties, and her poultry, draft pony and honeybees all play an important part in growing vegetables for CSA and farmers market customers.

Kelly will share her experience integrating livestock into her farm at a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day she is hosting on Monday, Aug. 27, from 2-6 p.m., on her farm in Dallas Center (23423 R Ave., just north of town).

The event – “Livestock Integration on a Small-Scale Vegetable Farm” – is free to attend, and will feature a potluck meal following the field day. Hoof Beet Farm will provide the meat; guests are asked to bring a side dish to share. Please RSVP for the meal to Debra Boekholder, debra@practicalfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661, by Thursday, Aug. 23.

At the field day, Kelly will share her approach to producing and direct-marketing pasture-raised poultry. Eggs are sold seasonally from a flock of free-range hens. Kelly also sells organically fed, pasture-raised chickens and turkeys on a pre-order basis, which are processed on the farm.

Kelly will discuss how she has improved her on-farm poultry processing system over the years, showcase the equipment she uses and share the lessons she’s learned in getting started. For those interested, she will also offer a live demonstration of processing Red Ranger broilers at the end of the event.

Other topics Kelly will cover include her small-scale vegetable production; how she integrates livestock into her farm; how draft-pony power fits into her operation; and beekeeping.

Hoof Beet Farm is an intensively managed, draft-powered farm marketing vegetables through spring, summer and fall vegetable CSA shares; on the farm; and through market-share options, with two farmers market pick-up points in Johnston and Grimes.

Directions From Dallas Center: Take IA Hwy 44 east and turn left (north) on R Avenue on the edge of Dallas Center. The farm will be 0.6 mile on the left side.

Practical Farmers of Iowa works to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities. Our values include: welcoming everyone; farmers leading the exchange of experience and knowledge; curiosity, creativity, collaboration and community; resilient farms now and for future generations; and stewardship of land and resources. To learn more, visit http://practicalfarmers.org.