Julie Battaille and Tyler Delsart were previous apprentices at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. Julie is from Brussels, Belgium and Tyler comes from Green Bay, WI. Both reached out to Michael Fields to expand their knowledge about sustainable agriculture. Never would they have imagined that they would find love in the fields. “I was hesitant to […]

by Tim Morrissey, Public News Service (WI) MADISON, Wis. — Most consumers have had the experience of buying vegetables because they look great, and then being disappointed by how they taste. That’s one of the main considerations in a new initiative at the University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, called the “Seed […]

Cow horns filled with manure, all in a row, earth bound and ready for winter. During the winter, they are receptive to cosmic-forces and are unearthed in the spring as Biodynamic preparation 500. After stirring a portion of the contents in water for an hour, the mixture is applied to fields to promote soil health, […]

As I write this, it is has been hot, dry and without rain for over two weeks and I’ve been working in the middle of a cornfield for most of it. The temps have been in the 80’s daily and the nights in the mid-60’s, a kind of heat that you can still feel as […]

Michael Fields changed Andrea Clemens’ life in different ways. This young flower farmer found the inspiration and the clear idea of growing flowers after her experience as an intern at Stella Gardens, the outdoor classroom program for beginner farmers at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. For some years, Andrea lived in East Troy, where Michael Fields […]

Ken Buchanan: “I became a Friend of Michael Fields because I think that the Whole Farm Workshops are very valuable. They provide very good information for farmers and this is very important to do for sustainable agriculture” Ken Buchanan believes that the classes which he attends at Michael Fields Agricultural Institute are necessary. This farmer […]

Gary and Caryl Watterson started their market farm several years ago to sell healthy food to people. They own BrynTeg Farm, Ashippun/ Oconomowoc, and they work hard to provide organic, fresh and locally-grown produce. “We started our farm because our daughter is asthmatic and we knew the importance of growing produce organically. We wanted to […]

“The non-profit institutes like Michael Fields are basic to creating awareness, bringing people to believe in local and sustainable farmers.” How can organic and biodynamic farms in the Midwest get more customers and market their products? This is one of the biggest questions that some farmers ask themselves every day.  We put the question to […]

When Tim Huth was studying sociology at Carroll University, he did not know what direction his life would take. Tim met some farmers while he was at Carroll who taught him some things and inspired him to consider farming. Tim started with just some pots on his porch and a rented garden plot. He had […]

Rob Petersen owns a 60 acre property in a small town in southeastern Wisconsin.  He has started the work of cleaning the pastures and trying to figure out the best way to manage the land, with the aim of building a permaculture farm.  He, his wife and his two kids are striving to be self-sufficient, […]

Mike Noltnerwyss and his wife, Cassie, run Crossroad Community Farm, a 20 acre family farm based in Cross Plains, near Madison, WI. They raise a large variety of organic vegetables, marketed through their CSA, wholesale outlets, and farmers markets. They’re very happy with their lifestyle and Mike acknowledges that he acquired an important part of […]

Over the past several years, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute has been honored in the presence of students from Shepherds College (Union Grove, Wisconsin). This association was originally developed by former garden manager Janet Gamble and was continued because of the valuable relationship and experience we expected to gain again this year. We weren’t disappointed.  Beginning […]

The 2012 Stella Gardens interns are hard at work at MFAI and learning about their new environment. Read their stories…