VERSALAND

 

 
 

VERSALAND was a farm-scale permaculture experiment focused on developing a Keyline Design inspired agroforestry system spanning 145 acres of Iowa farmland


Operating from roughly 2013 - 2018, Versaland had a short but colorful life. Bullish and relentless, it acted as a laboratory where new ideas for tools, techniques, and business models were rapidly designed, built, and tested in the field.

Over 20,000 trees and berries were planted across the site in 2014. That physical reality became the draw of Versaland and inspiration for many. But in order to sustain the farm while the trees grew, a myriad of other on-farm ventures had to be implemented. These included:

  • Contract growing annuals, such as oats

  • Cutting and baling clover & alfalfa hay for sale

  • Tree nursery & online store

  • Custom tools and farm supplies

  • Large pollinator strips also used for cut flowers

  • Large plantings of berries such as honeyberry, seaberry, elderberry, & strawberry

  • Honey bee apiary for pollination and honey

  • Poultry such as chickens, ducks, geese, and turkey

  • Eggs

  • Livestock such as sheep, pigs, & cattle

  • Mushroom logs such as shiitake and oyster

  • Low maintenance vegetables such as rhubarb, sun choke, asparagus, and garlic

  • Participating in the local farmers market, direct to customer, and restaurant sales

  • Intern program to educate and house in exchange for labor

  • Workshops

  • On-farm entertainment events

  • Eventual maturity of fruit and nut trees

 

INVOLVEMENT

I was introduced to Versaland in summer 2013 and stayed involved through summer of 2016. I was part of the team that implemented the major tree planting in spring of 2014. I started a small honey bee apiary on the property in spring of 2014 and a shiitake mushroom log operation in spring of 2015. I moved onto the farm in summer of 2015 and stayed until my involvement ended in summer of 2016. I assisted in land development tasks, designing and building tools, rotational grazing, animal care, grafting and planting trees, working with interns, and hosting workshops and other events.

I’m extremely grateful for my time spent at Versaland. Coming out of university and being thrown into a whirlwind of effort and creativity around an idea that felt like it could “help save the world” changed me forever and continues to influence my work today.