David L

Counties of interest

Missoula

Planned Operation

Small Animal (pigs, rabbits, poultry), Vegetable, Fruit/Orchard

Check all experience and education that apply to you and your farming partners

Agriculture-related college degree, General farming (less than 3 years), Other experience/license/agriculture or business training

Other experience/license/agriculture or business training:

9 Years in the Army

Land Tenure

Cropshare, Open to other arrangements

Briefly describe your current occupation(s) and responsibilities and list previous agricultural employment and experiences. If you are currently farming or ranching, please state the size, type(s), and location of the operation.

I am farming for Sean McCoy at Frank's Little Farm, a diverse vegetable and strawberry farm. I interned on the PEAS Farm (2021) and learned the specifics of cultivating 5 acres of land. I am participating in CFAC's Certified Farm Startup Program. I managed a greenhouse that produced 15,000 fruit and vegetable starts for distribution to the community.

Acreage

1-5

Farming Practices

Organic, Other

Please elaborate on the type(s) of agricultural operation you plan on running.

Small (1 acre or less) vegetable farm- I will focus on peppers, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, carrots, garlic, corn, squash/ pumpkins, and melons. I will use regenerative practices that prioritize soil health to sustainably produce food for market and seed saving.

Elaborate on the farming practices you plan on using.

I plan on using permanent no till beds. A fall cover crop of oats and peas will be sown in the late summer/early fall, and subsequently winter-killed. The cover crop residue will then provide the ground cover for the following season's bed. The permanent bed, now layered with cover crop residue will be transplanted into. This ground cover will last the duration of the growing season and will be removed and composted when removed post-harvest, in preparation for the next fall cover crop. For direct sow crops like carrots, corn, and garlic bed conditions will be altered as required. I plan to begin seed saving for future farm use. Composting will be a pillar of the farm's success. A combination of heavy plant residue and aerated composting piles will result in quick turnover and large yields of on farm compost. Microbial inoculants/ compost teas will be used to foster a healthy soil food web. I will not use tillage, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, plastic, or other equally destructive practice in the operation of this system. (depending on the specifics of the land in question, an initial tillage/ disturbance may be required to shape the farm). I intend intercrop, employ crop rotations, and cover crop. The farm will abide by the principles of soil health: limit disturbance, promote biodiversity, keep a living root in the soil, and keep the soil covered. In addition to selling at market- select value added products (pickles, garlic salt, ect...)

If you are interested in another type of business arrangement, please explain

I am open to exploring any beneficial relationships to be had.

Please elaborate on the kind of additional training/information that would help you:

All additional training and information would be helpful