Greetings, Holly Hill Farm community!

As we step into June, I’m excited to share the highlights of a productive and fulfilling May here at Holly Hill Farm. Tiffany is doing incredible work at the café. I am adjusting to a new workflow as we build a team. This month was a delightful balance of performing my professional role for clients, being a partner to Tiffany, and father to my two kids. It's been a busy month balancing farm work and personal time. Here's a look back at what we achieved.

Wetland Creations

This past month had me working to create living wetland systems in two locations. The first was a riparian planting in an existing commercial stormwater system in Asheboro, NC. A manufacturing facility needed to improve the functionality of their system. I was able to plant wetland species such as arrow root, duck potato and pickerel weed in the appropriate locations to improve the biodiversity and resilience of the stormwater system. The second project was a new rainwater fed pond in the front yard of a farmstead in Franklinville, NC. As a biology trained designer it's incredibly satisfying to add biodiversity and resilience to one system and then in the other situation to create a whole new ecosystem to be a wellspring of life for a front yard.

Problem Drain Box Fix

In May I also helped a homeowner fix some problems with an existing drainage system. We removed a non functioning precast concrete drainage box and then dropped a new pipe in a new solution. I also improved drainage around a garage and helped the homeowner prepare for some upcoming concrete work. Digging dirt and setting pipe can be humbling but this project brought a nice reminder of what I am able to accomplish on a job site.

Land Design and Forest Management

After years of careful planning with some special clients, we began a timber harvest on a family tree farm in Randolph County. I designed the timber cut working with Dan Edwards. Goals of the timber harvest include revenue generation, advancing the forest ecology forward for another generation, and altering the structure of the forest to allow for more openings for wildlife habitat. Mostly pine and poplar are being harvested with careful attention paid to leaving the forest in good shape for future use.

Site Consultations

May also included a few delightful site consultations. It’s always a pleasure to share my knowledge of permaculture and sustainable farming with others. These consultations are a fantastic way to extend the reach of environmental stewardship beyond Holly Hill Farm.

Personal Highlights

Despite the demanding work, I made sure to spend quality time with friends and family. Whether it was a quiet evening with loved ones or a lively gathering with friends, these moments provided much-needed balance and joy.