Foraging and Food Forests at Freebird Farm
America’s farming industry has transformed the northern half of the country into a never ending sea of corn and beans. In northern Indiana, among this strange mono-cropped landscape, there are still those who dream of herbal medicines and biodiversity. Melanie, owner of Freebird Farm, is one such person. Her greenhouse is filled with medicinal herbs and her garden is an epic food forest in the making. Many of the plants in her yard are native species foraged locally from the edge of dense forest patches or the side of lightly trafficked country roads.
In just a few short weeks I got a crash course on plant identification, harvesting, and preservation of native plants. I learned how to turn elderflowers into tea and how to identify mulberry, milkweed, and mullien. I learned that even notoriously prolific plants like dandelions and mint which many people consider "weeds" have valuable therapeutic properties. Melanie's knowledge of local plants empowers her to make medicines for her family all year round in the form of teas, tinctures, and concentrates.
My favorite preservation process was a particularly magical steam distillation method where plant matter is boiled and cooled rapidly. This produces an infused water called a hydrosol which can be used in food, drinks, soaps, or pretty much anything else you can think of!
In addition to the lush garden and growing fruit orchard, Freebird Farm has begun to integrate their livestock and gardening operations. The chicken run surrounds the garden to add fertilization to the soil and to keep rodents and other pests away from the plants. The sheep feed on a rotating pen system and the pigs counterbalance the effects of the neighboring industrial pig farm down the road.
In 30 years when big Agriculture has completely deplete the soil if every last nutrient and the land has been transformed into a desert, I have no doubt that Freebird Farm will stand as an oasis hidden among the desolate landscape. I am forever grateful for their sharing their knowledge and passion for living locally, sustainably, and with grace.
