Free and includes lunch! 

If you’re curious about growing more than just vegetables, or want to explore how diverse crops can enhance both production and soil health, this field day is for you. We’ll focus on natural dye plants—annual and perennial species that often also serve as cut flowers—alongside garlic, rhubarb, and seeds, showing how multiple enterprises can fit into a practical organic farm system. This is a great opportunity for farmers, homesteaders, and growers interested in soil-building practices, adaptive farm management, and how to integrate it all into an Organic Systems Plan (OSP).

During this on-farm field day at Hilltop Farm & Fiber Arts, we’ll explore how the farm’s management systems have evolved over time and how those changes shape day-to-day soil and crop decisions. Hilltop Farm once integrated livestock but now sources composted manure off-farm, offering a practical example of adapting nutrient management while maintaining fertility and organic certification. We’ll also discuss how scale, labor, and cost considerations influence decisions about which practices to keep, modify, or replace.

Through a farm tour and discussion, participants will:

• Visit the certified organic processing areas used for dried plant material and seed handling
• See how the farm’s Organic Systems Plan guides everyday soil health and crop management decisions
• Explore production strategies for natural dye plants alongside garlic, rhubarb, and seeds for niche organic markets
• Enjoy a locally sourced lunch
• Observe low-till bed preparation with a rototiller, cover-cropped beds, and techniques for maintaining soil structure
• Learn how soil test results can be interpreted and applied to real-world fertility management

Accessibility Notes 
The farm is not wheelchair accessible and has sloped, rough ground. Location is not accessible by public transportation, but carpooling is encouraged. Find or share a ride here!
The rain date for this event is August 11, 2026 from 11:00am - 2:00pm.

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