Perennial Possibilities and Annual Rotations

Barr Farms is a seventh-generation family farm committed to stewarding the land for the next seven generations. Inspired by a lineage connected to the land, Adam Barr and Rae Strobel build community, soil and farming systems that center the flow of water, the energy of sunlight and the biodiversity of life below and above ground, growing and raising food for their family and community. On 260 acres in Meade County, Barr Farms raises organic produce, 100% grass-fed beef and pastured chicken for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares and local farmers markets. 

Building on their long-term commitment and with an eye towards whole farm planning, Adam and Rae added perennial nut trees and berry brambles to diversify their crops, support and stabilize their living soils and enhance their farm’s wildlife and pollinator habitats. Join this OAK Farmer Field Day to visit the orchards, fields, high tunnels and alley cropping of Barr Farms and hear how the farm’s practices of using cover crops, crop rotations, water and irrigation management and diversification are supporting their present and future farm goals. 

 As a Kentucky farm enrolled in OAK's USDA-supported Climate-Smart Project, Barr Farms has committed to implementing climate-smart practices and assessing whole-farm sustainability. Learn more about OAK's project at https://www.oak-ky.org/climate-smart-project. Support for this project comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities under agreement number NR233A750004G092. 

 BONUS: Please consider joining us for OAK's Graze and Gather Lunch Social, an informal post-event gathering on the farm.