Prairie Hills Farm
is a 7-acre farm in Selma, IN that grows around 20 different fruits and vegetables using organic practices, in addition to raising pasture-fed goats, chickens, and turkeys. Farmers Sylvester and Sabrina Friend have partnered with local schools, youth groups, and agricultural organizations to share their gardening and farming knowledge with the community. With their $4,945 grant they were able to extend their growing season by constructing hoop houses on their raised planting beds, reduce water usage by installing a rain catchment and drip irrigation system, and purchase gardening tools and supplies for a youth farming program.
By adding the rainwater catchment system, they were able to collect about 1000 gallons of water in a season during a drought year. The drip irrigation system will continue to save them about 100 hours of labor over a growing season. Farmer Sylvester Friend said, “the farm will continue to have positive impacts regeneratively collecting rainwater, reducing the wasted water by utilizing drip, and extending our growing season…We have the appropriate tools and safety equipment when volunteers and youth groups come to the farm to learn”
