Protected Farms

Filigreen Farm

Filigreen Farm is situated in the Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California. Historically it housed a dairy and produced hops then apples and alfalfa, amongst other crops.  In the late 1980’s the farm was developed as a biodynamic apple orchard. Following a change of ownership in 2000 the land was donated to the Yggdrasil Land Foundation. Filigreen Farm, LLC leases the 87-acre property and began development of a mixed biodynamic farm and garden, consisting primarily of high-density orchards and a vineyard. Apples, pears, blueberries, peaches, cherries and olives for oil production are grown with the largest acreage devoted to the valley’s specialty, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapes.

Five acres have been set aside for development as intensive horticultural teaching gardens.  Anderson Creek, a major tributary of the Navarro River, bisects the farm and has, over the years, undergone extensive stream bank stabilization projects, serving as a training ground for other at-risk riparian lands.  A Conservation Easement held by the Anderson Valley Land Trust further protects the property. In the future the farm will also provide environmental education opportunities and a farm intern training program.

Krusen Grass Farm

Yggdrasil was gifted this 240 acre property in East Troy, WI by Christopher and Martina Mann in 2001.  The land has been leased to the Krusenbaum Family since 1990, who operates the farm as Krusen Grass Farms, LLC.   It is operated by Altfrid and Sue Krusenbaum and their three teenage children.  Since 2003 they have also employed a part time maintenance manager/machinery operator and in 2006 they started a share-milking program with hopes that this experience can turn into a career path for young people to start dairy farming.

Altfrid immigrated to the US in 1986 after graduating in animal and dairy sciences in Germany, to marry Sue and pursue his dream of farming. Sue (Zinniker) grew up on the oldest biodynamic dairy farm in the US near East Troy, Wisconsin.  As soon as they started to lease the farm, they began using biodynamic principles. Their goal was to build a successful family farm based on a stewardship ethic toward the soil, the earth, and ultimately, humanity. The Krusenbaums are one of the pioneers in pasture-based dairy and beef farming in southeast Wisconsin, grazing cattle since 1992.

The Krusenbaums produce milk, meat and eggs. They graze 130 dairy cows, raise about 50 replacements/year and raise 30 steers/year as grass-fed beef in an intensively managed pasture-based system.  The land has been farmed organically, with a biodynamic philosophy, since 1990.   No mineral fertilizers and /or farm chemicals are used on the land and they are a Certified Organic milk producer to Organic Valley, a nationally recognized, Wisconsin Dairy cooperative. The beef is marketed directly to the end customer and can be bought on-line at www.krusengrassfarms.com.  They have a great website about their farming, services and programs. The Krusenbaums also host tours for local schools, customers, producers and groups from around the world. Altfrid also speaks on many issues related to management intensive grazing, grazing and organics and forging a career path for new dairy farmers. Krusen Grass Farms has a strong commitment to training interns and apprentices as well as advocating grass based farming and sustainable farming practices both to producers and consumers.

The farm is leased on a long-term lease to the Krusenbaums.  They own the livestock, machinery and various improvements, incl. a 16 unit swing over parlor (constructed 1996). The property is also protected by a Conservation Easement held by the American Farmland Trust (AFT) since 2000.

Temple-Wilton Community Farm

Yggdrasil's relationship with the Temple-Wilton Community Farm and its legal entity, the Educational Community Farm, is distinguished from its other properties in that Yggdrasil serves as a charitable ownership vehicle and as a holder of land for public benefit. This public ownership relieved the farmers of the challenges of becoming a charitable corporation and provided a service of allowing them to raise the capital to purchase land and equipment. This ownership model also frees the farmers to generate income without capital indebtedness and does not interfere with farm activities. The Temple-Wilton Community Farm raised funds for Yggdrasil, matched by the State of New Hampshire, to purchase a 50 acre tract of land that serves as an educational farm with a community supported agriculture (CSA) group and apprenticeship training program. The land is now leased long-term to the community farm.

The Temple-Wilton Community Farm started in 1986, with three farmer families and a group of local individuals wishing to help establish and maintain a biodynamic (organic) farm to serve the needs of people in the Wilton, New Hampshire area. Currently, they provide a broad range of products, such as milk, yogurt, cheese, meat, bread and eggs for up to 105 households a year. The farm has 15 milking cows, a breeding bull, calves and heifers for a total of 32 head of cattle as well as 120 chickens. Additionally, they farm about six acres of vegetables each year. The Educational Community Farm property is further protected with deed restrictions through the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (www.lchip.org), the agency which made a matching grant to purchase the land.

To learn more about the farm and its farm product and produce lists, membership, farm philosophy, events, apprenticeships and more link to Temple-Wilton Community Farm (www.templewiltoncommunityfarm.com).

North Farm Annex (still working on-TBA)