Rustic Roots Sanctuary

“Rustic Roots Sanctuary is a sustainable farm and sanctuary in Spanish Lake with an organic community garden growing organic, local, whole foods.”

“Our organization is a community led 501(c)(3). Rustic Roots Sanctuary is a 6.64 acre farm that serves the Spanish Lake community.”

“Our first successful project was GROW Spanish Lake community garden. Our sustainable farm includes rabbits, goats, chickens and bees – these animal partners help us compost, fertilize and pollinate the garden. As a result a symbiotic relationship between the animals and the land is created.”

Farm Size

6.64 acres

Conservation Practices

• Crop rotation
• Compost
• No synthetic chemicals on crops or pasture
• Integrated pest management
• Pollinator enhancement plan
• Grazing management plan
• Field border
• Animals forage for food
• No confinement of animals
• No antibiotics, parasiticides, or other farm drugs for non-therapeutic reasons
• No synthetic growth promotants or added hormones
• Beehives have 4+ hours of sunlight per day and have adequate ventilation
• Bees are not fed white sugar

Additional Practices

• Organic seeds
• Solar power for all of the farm’s power
• Working towards rain collection and irrigation
• Food goes into the Spanish Lake community through their CSA or through donations
• Animals are not used for meat – chickens are used for eggs, goats are used for milk, and bees are used for honey
• No debeaking chickens
• Goats are not weaned until 4 months

Herd Size

26 chickens

6 goats

4 beehives

Animal Feed

Goats forage and are given occasional supplemental feed when necessary. Chickens forage and are fed conventional grain. 

Rotation

Chickens and goats are rotated to break infest infestations. They use movable electric netting to create paddocks on different areas of their farm. Chickens are moved with the help of a chicken tractor and portable fencing.

Products

• Honey
• Kombucha
• Elderflower champagne
• Eggs
• Veggies
• Goat milk