Project Overview
Our goal - to get
as many farmers and folks eating and growing rice (Oryza Sativa) throughout Maine, the Maritimes, and the Northeast.
Background - We
are developing an educational, research and commercialized rice operation. Currently
there are no commercial rice growers in the state, and only a sprinkling of
homesteading rice practices.
Most domestic rice farms in the United States are monocultures that rely
heavily on fossil fuel-driven mechanized cultivation and harvesting processes,
and chemical sprays and fertilizers. Our proposed systems are
ecologically beneficial and symbiotic, adaptable to otherwise inaccessible
farmland (low-lying wet clay soils), void of chemical inputs, and after initial
excavation of the paddy areas, non-reliant on fuel-driven tools and
machines. Arsenic is not an issue in our rice.
Two years of results have already indicated higher yields,
reduced input costs, and beautiful cultures.
In creating wetlands we have provided homes for many threatened species.
Like a fresh, local, heirloom tomato, our rice varieties are rich in flavor.
However, it will take us additional capital and energy now to create the system,
as well as time and research to figure out what methodologies and varieties
work best in this region. Hence indiegogo!
Yields - In 2014 we got 30 lbs of rice. This extrapolates to 2500 lbs/acre. In a few years, as we build cultivation practices and soil we expect yields up to 5,000 pounds per acre. In the meantime we will need to address complications that come with increasing scale, along with continuing to test the best growing methods and seeds for this area.
History - We have
always been interested in grain growing as a powerful way to diversify
homesteading practices, farm operations, and local economies. At Wild Folk, it matched our philosophies and
passions but did not match our soil. In the winter of 2013 Ben traveled to the
Philippines to visit family, and witnessed the beautiful rice paddy ecosystems,
and the renowned International Rice Research Institution (IRRI). The
seeds of the vision for Maine were planted and the groundwork set. Digging deeper back stateside, the wonderful
publication the "Power of Duck", articulated the success and methods
of lowland rice polycultures in Japan. Further
research revealed they were already getting their feet wet in Vermont. Then, upon reflections of high water tables,
a pond uphill, and heavy clay soil, we decided to start listening to the
land.
Wild Folk Farm
Wild Folk farm is located in Benton Maine, the heart of the
Kennebec Valley farmland. Much of the
farm sits on fertile marine clay soil, which holds water and nutrients very
well, but is less apt for common crops and livestock. Highly
diversified and integrated, we strive to go beyond organic standards. Currently we produce fruits and vegetables
wholesale, and are creating perennial food mosaics and forests for future
production.
The farm is designed and continually
strives to be a place for community, subsistence, permaculture, experimentation,
demonstration and education. We try to integrate small-scale organic principles
into the praxis and philosophy of permaculture in order to maximize potential
production without compromising responsible land stewardship. We rely on
human power coupled with hand and wheel tools, and the ecology around us to
perform our work. Partly out of principle, but mainly for the sake
of conviviality and connection to our surroundings and each other.
To learn more about the farm please
visit our website wildfolkfarm.com or
come to the farm, we love visitors!
Time-Line
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Seed saving
We are trialing 30-40 varieties of rice, all from similar
climates across the globe. Here is a profile of what we will be growing this
year:
-
Diamente was developed in Chile. It is a cold hardy
long grain (a rarity!).
-
Affinis
has a short kernel, is rich in protein, and is a heavy producer from
Kazakhstan.
-
Precoce Allorio is
used in risotto. From Italy, it has a purple stem
-
Kamuimochi
is a sticky white rice used in sushi. It is from Japan.
-
Kopancsi
Resista is from eastern Europe.
It is red and a medium grain.
- OMIRT –
39 was developed in Portugal. Protein rich, it could make great rice milk.
It could also use a name upgrade.
We are excited to be able to share our successful varieties.
In the upcoming years we hope to hone in on 10 or so varieties / types
that can thrive in our regional macro and micro climates.
Interested in Trailing
Seeds?
We are looking for collaborators,
in similar climates (zone 4-5), to test varieties with us. Wet spots, five gallon buckets, garden soils
all work great. We will get you the seed
and growing instructions. If your
variety does well can you share it with us? We are happy to share the successful
seeds we grew with you!
Why Funding?
We are pursuing funding because
rice is a new, un-trialed commercial crop in Maine, and a rarity in homesteading as well. It is hard to find
other capital to support the physical excavation, the diversion
of labor, and the time spent trialing in these initial years.
Farmers are not likely to adopt rice growing without very clear examples
of it working elsewhere, and more importantly, a clear cost and implementation
analysis that they can follow to do the work themselves. Farmers rely on expense forecasting to plan
crops and knowing that at harvest there is a profitable market for the rice,
and a place to process it. We will
provide this model for them, as well as offer processing equipment for small
scale growers.
We can create a system of stability, resilience and
adaptation, when many futures are not so.
However we are not there yet. With your support we can continue to focus on the big
picture, to research, educate and share.
Climate Change
Acknowledging science’s inability to accurately predict
climatic futures, important projections for Maine are:
-
Wetter winters and springs.
- More erratic and fluctuating weather patterns
- Already, the northeast has seen a 67% increase
in heavy precipitation events over the
past 30 years as well as longer dry periods during the summer.
- By the end of this century yearly average
temperatures and climate similar to current temperatures from Virginia to South
Carolina (depending on low or high emission models).
In reality we need to
design, create and plan for the unknown.
Paddy rice systems can provide resilience in these times!
-
The pond can store water in wet periods for use
in dry periods.
-
Rice, ducks, fish and azolla can be more
productive in warmer climate
- The berms, vegetation and water help moderate
temperature fluctuations.
- Rice can grow in dry and wet conditions.
-
Rigorous trialling of varieties year to year
will yield a seed profile that can provide insurance and adaptation for
turbulent and changing climates.
Resource Use:
Let us use the remaining fossil fuels responsible to create
systems that are not reliant on them. Prior
to the industrial age, so much of the world’s farming took place where the
water flowed. Agricultures let gravity do
that work. In our system the biology, through the ducks, azolla, frogs and fish
create fertility onsite and the irrigation is gravity fed. Once established, paddies in Asia can last
centuries without the need for any modification. And unlike non-rotational monocultures, this
stationary polyculture has proven to be more fertile as time passes. It creates
soil, rather than destroying it!
Fundraising
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Work Parties
The human culture we are working towards is as important as the
production side of lowland integrated rice agriculture.
With
our developing paddy system, the labor requirements come in pulses
with transplanting in the spring, and then in the fall harvesting, drying and
processing of the rice. This just screams
work parties!
The touch of feet in the rich clay. The
smell of fresh soil below. The swinging
in unison and sound of scythes cutting the rice. The chorus of frog croaking
and songs being sung as hands pass bundles to be dried. The sight of newfound
friends working and playing together.
And throughout the season the humbling nature of seeing the biology and
ecosystem take control inspires the soul.
Stimulated senses, and the conviviality it imbues, what better way to
get people excited about human scale farming then by participating in it!
Links
Satoyama is where the hills, the forest and rice paddies conjoin. Want some inspiration on the natural history of rice paddies from
Japan? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pII_2VbgheI
Potential Bike Power Processing Equipment:
1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgnmhtbgyfg
2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3UU31axeEY
Fun(ish)
Facts
Rice
-
Most rice is produced by subsistence
famers. In contrast, most corn and wheat production, as well as other staples
crops occurs on a large commercial scale.
- Why? - For one it is adaptable. There are more varieties of rice than all the
other grains combined. Secondly,
the strengths that the biology in the paddy system provide can counter the external pressures of chemicals
and machines.
- Rice can produce double the
yields of all other grains.
- It can grow in both wet and dry
areas.
Wetlands
-
The net primary productivity (biomass
created) of wetlands is 1.6x higher than temperate forests and 2.5x higher than savannah, which is analogous to current farm habitats.
- ½ lost in US over past 200 years
- Highest diversity of endangered and
threatened species of any biome in the US. 43% of endangered or threatened
species rely on them to live!
Azolla
-
Fixes 3x more nitrogen than any
leguminous cover crop.
- In warmth it can double in biomass in under
a week.
-
It is edible and has as much protein as spirulina, the highest of all green veggies. Our
ducks, chickens and sheep all enjoy it.
Humans can eat it too……so we’ve heard.
Ducks
-
Duckling are adorable…….and yes, delicious
when grown in an ecosystem that closely mimics their native habitats.
Thanks to you for:
- Checking us out!
- Passing the word to friends, families and foes (this Indiegogo campaign
is as much about outreach and connecting as it is fundraising).
- Getting interested in rice cultivation.
- Donating.
Special thanks to our friends:
Tamer Hassan – Video Editor
Edith and Bennett – Music
Iris Freeheart - Music
Lisa Oakes - Logo Graphic Design
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