Earthwise Farm and Forest

Earthwise Farm and Forest is a 158 acre farm tucked in the hills of Bethel, Vermont. It may also be on the cutting edge of a return to simplicity. Lisa McCrory and Carl Russell have brought forth thier dreams of living intentionally through the farm and forest on thier property.

While many gardeners don't have grand visions of a transformed way of life, many have that sense that life is better working the land. Furthermore, many gardeners understand that organic practices in gardening and farming are often part of a larger set of goals and beliefs rooted in the ideas of stewardship.

We are pleased and proud to bring you a look at the farm and forest as well as philosophies and family of the caretakers of this special place in Vermont.

If you have a garden, farm, Community Supported Agriculture group or other place you think we ought to visit, let us know!

If you would like to contact Earthwise Farm and Forest they may be reached by telephone at (802) 234 - 5524. They often run workshops at the farm on various subjects and welcome your interest.

The Home and Family

The property that is Earthwise Farm and Forest has been in Carl's family for nearly three quarters of a century. Carl's grandfather bought the farm and it has been in use by his family ever since. In July of 2001 Carl and Lisa began work on excavating the area of the property that now serves as thier home. The home itself was designed and built by Carl with forest products hewn from the land using draft horses to harvest the timber, ingenuity in lifting the logs and fitting them into place and without the use of heavy machinery with exception to the excavation of the basement hole and clearing stumps from the home site.

The house is an octagonal log building built to be energy independant. McCrory and Russell both wanted to live a life that respected the local ecosystem and by extension the planet as a whole. With a composting toilet, greywater system, solar panels and wind generation they are well on thier way to a closed loop lifestyle that provides for all the energy needs of the homestead. Though they still use a generator they continue to improve upon harvesting the freely available energy sources on thier land and expect to leave behind dependance on the generator at some point.

Lisa and Carl were able to move into thier home in March of 2004 and that is when the farm really began to take off. McCrory has an education in animal sciences with specialization in management intensive grazing of ruminant livestock. This knowledge has made her a valuable consultant for groups such as the Northeast Organic Farmers Association of VT where she works with organic and transitioning livestock and dairy producers, and the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, where she is an editor for their quarterly newsletter.

Carl's background with a degree in Forestry has led the two to being able to compliment one another greatly. He has managed his use of the forest in a sustainable way and harvested wood not only for the house and for heating, but also to make the farm an economically feasible operation. "As far as the forest is concerned, I manage my use of the forest, as opposed to managing the forest. My primary objective is to allow the forest ecosystem to express its natural function, while utilizing forest products such as timber, fuel wood, and maple sap." Implementing a low-impact philosophy by using draft animals for harvesting, reducing harvest volumes, harvesting specifically for timber stand improvement (Crop Tree Release), and maintaining a vision of the forest as an ecosystem, the main product of the forest is not financial assets. They manage intensive plantations of white pine, red pine and norway spruce balanced against natural stands of mixed species and stands of hemlock, red spruce, paper birch, and northern hardwoods.

Though the forest currently does act as the cash crop for the farm, Carl points out that "the real product of the farm is the enterprise - the experience" and that the other products are simply byproducts of the lifestyle choices they have made. They have no plans to develop the farm into an industrial powerhouse of production, but prefer instead to look at the land and their interactions with it as symbiotic relationship capable of providing sustenance for thier family while giving back to the land.

The Gardens

The gardens at Earthwise consists of herb gardens, flower gardens, and two vegetable or kitchen gardens producing enough to put away for the cold Vermont winter. The farm uses the herb garden to create handmade soaps (coming soon), creams, salves and wreaths among other things. These are sold to the local community at the Farmers' Market during the non-winter months. The flower garden produces cut flowers and of course graces the day of the inhabitants with it's color and glory.

Among the herbs and vegetables grown:

The Garden Products

The gardens at Earthwise are utilized in making herbal salves and creams. The essential oils used in production of these salves and creams are purchased from organic sources. Many of the herbs and flowers used to make the salves and creams come from the gardens at Earthwise.

The products Lisa and her sister Poppy are now creating include:

Salves

Muscle Soother

• Contains:Infused Calendula Oil, Infused Comfrey Oil, Infused Arnica Oil, Beeswax, Eucalyptus Essential Oil.(using olive oil for infusions)
• Good for: Sore Muscles, Sprains, Bruises Helps to promote healing of tissues
• CAUTION: Do not use on open cuts or while pregnant

Calendula Magic - All purpose healing salve

• Contains:Infused Calendula Oil, Infused Comfrey Oil, Beeswax, Cocoa Butter, with Tea Tree,Lavender and Eucalyptus Essential Oils. (using olive oil for infusions)
• Good for: Cuts, Bruises, Skin Irritations, Insect Bites

Deep Healing Salve

• Contains:Infused Calendula Oil, Infused Comfrey Oil, Infused St. John’s Wort Oil, Infused PlantainOil, Beeswax, and Coconut Oil.(using olive oil for infusions)
• Good for: Hard working hands, chapped skin, weathered skin

Lip Balm

• Contains: Infused Calendula Oil, beeswax.(using Olive oil for infusions)

Creams

Lavender

• Contains:Infused Calendula Oil, Coconut Oil, Cocoa butter , Beeswax, Aloe Vera Gel, distilled water, Vitamin E, and Lavender Essential Oil (using Olive oil for infusions)

Rose

• Contains:Infused Calendula Oil, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Beeswax, Rose Water, Aloe Vera Gel, Vitamin E, and Rosewood Essential Oil (using Olive oil for infusions)
• Good for: Moisturizing skin