Soil for Water Case Study Series
Eleven farmers and ranchers throughout Virginia shared their stories and management practices in the Soil for Water Case Study series. The project was led by Eric Bendfeldt, Kim Niewolny, and Katie Trozzo from Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension; Lee Rinehart and Mike Morris of the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT); and Ernie Didot of Clear Impact Productions. This series aims to share how farmers improve soil health and catch and hold more rainwater in the soil through their use of regenerative grazing practices.
Thank you, farmers, for sharing your time, experiences, and insights about regenerative grazing and soil health-building systems with us and the broader community!
Each case study on the 4 The Soil blog will highlight the stories behind the operation. First up, we are honored to highlight Mike Sands of Bean Hollow Grassfed Farm.
Bean Hollow Grassfed Farm: Early Years
Bean Hollow Grassfed Farm is a multigenerational farm located in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Rappahannock County, Virginia. Mike Sands talks with Eric Bendfeldt of Virginia Cooperative Extension about his family’s story and how they cultivate a healthy ecosystem on the farm.
Mike’s early career began as a researcher and educator, but a gnawing in his gut led him to farming. “I’d always been interested in a systems approach. So, how did livestock fit into the larger farm picture?” In 2012, Mike and his wife, Betsy Dietel, moved onto the farm to be closer to Betsy’s parents Linda and Bill Dietel, who had started the operation in 1980.
“My office window here looked out over these pastures, and it was kind of this constant gnawing and nagging sense of you’re talking about all this stuff, Mike, but you’re sitting on land that is not appropriate for what you’re talking about,” he said. “So I decided to see what I could do.”
The first two years, they started with sheep and rotational grazing. Later, they added cattle and layer hens. Most of their meat sales are sold through their on-farm store.
Collaboration and Growth Mindset
“We work with a lot of partners,” said Mike. “I think the secret to any success I’ve had is inviting a lot of people on the farm and picking their brains and having them do research in some cases.” Virginia Tech, Piedmont Environmental Council, Virginia Office of Working Lands, and American Farmland Trust have all collaborated with Mike to help support Bean Hollow Grassfed Farm.
Farming, for Mike, is about continuous improvement. He assesses finances and hard-to-measure ecological metrics and makes management decisions that push toward regenerative practices. Mike also recognizes the challenges of transitioning systems and is mindful of traditions and conservation planning.
Watch the video to learn more about Mike's story, management practices, and the future of Bean Hollow Grassfed Farm.
Follow Along Bean Hollow Grassfed Farm
Website: beanhollowgrassfed.com
Instagram: @beanhollowgrassfed9
Facebook: Bean Hollow Grassfed
More Featuring Mike and Bean Hollow Grassfed Farm
Grass Roots | Virginia Working Landscapes, a short film by Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and the Working Land and Seascapes Initiative
Regional Resiliency: How Local Producers are Filling the Gap During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Jacob Gilley, American Farmland Trust
Pandemic Accelerates Rappahannock’s Sustainable Agriculture Efforts by Mary Sketch-Bryant, Daily Yonder
Productive Pastures at Bean Hollow Grassfed by Bri West, Piedmont Environmental Council
To dig into the resources and partners that Mike mentioned, check out the Virginia Soil Health Coalition blog post Bean Hollow Grassfed Farm: A Soil for Water Case Study.
See all the farmers' and ranchers' stories from the Soil for Water Video Case Studies on the Virginia Cooperative Extension's YouTube channel.
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