Produce & Animals

On the Farm

Blackwood Educational Land Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing ecological literacy and regenerative land stewardship through education, agriculture, and community engagement.

On the farm

Produce

At Blackwood, we grow a rotating selection of seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs, and native plants using regenerative practices that rebuild soil health and work with the land rather than against it. Our farm stand and harvest programs connect the community directly to what's grown here.

Comfrey

Symphytum
Comfrey is a fast-growing perennial herb famous for its deep roots and healing properties. While widely celebrated as a topical remedy for joint pain and a nutrient-rich fertilizer, health authorities strictly warn against eating comfrey due to severe liver risks.

Mint

Mentha
Mint is a versatile, nutrient-rich herb celebrated for its refreshing flavor and therapeutic properties. It is primarily known for soothing digestion, reducing inflammation, and freshening breath, while also offering benefits for mental clarity, skin health, and natural pain relief.

Tomatoes

Solanum lycopersicum
We grow lots of different tomato varieties, including Cherokee Purple, Red Torch, Sungold, and San Marzanos.

Moringas

Moringa oleifera
Tree can grow 15 feet in one year. Entire plant is edible. It produces "drum sticks" or pods used in stews or soups, along with leaves that you can use fresh or powdered. Moringa is a nutrient-dense superfood known for its highly concentrated profile of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. It offers potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that support overall health.

Blackberries

Rubus allegheniensis
This nutrient-dense superfood is packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins (C, K), and manganese.

Strawberries

Fragaria × ananassa
Sweet and sun-ripened, our strawberries are a favorite of the early spring harvest, rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.

Elderberries

Sambucus canadensis
Elderberry is widely used to support immune health.
on the farm

Animals

From laying hens to heritage breed livestock, the animals at Blackwood play an active role in our farm ecosystem. Students and visitors learn how animals contribute to soil fertility, pest management, and the rhythms of a working regenerative farm.

Blackwood Dogs

Canis lupus familiaris
Sage and Bastion are our livestock guardian dogs. Their job is to protect the chickens from any predators, especially at night. They love to ride on the back of the gators.

Blackwood Worms

Eisenia fetida
Our composting worms turn food scraps and farm waste into nutrient-rich castings that feed the soil. By breaking down organic matter, they improve soil structure and fertility across the Land, closing the loop between what we grow and what we return to the earth.

Blackwood Chickens

Gallus gallus domesticus
The Chicken program at Blackwood Educational Land Institute offers a hands-on introduction to animal care, land stewardship, and the role of livestock in a healthy farm ecosystem. Through daily interactions—feeding, observing, and tending—participants learn how chickens contribute to soil health, nutrient cycling, and food production.More than just caring for birds, the experience builds an understanding of responsibility, rhythm, and the interconnected systems that sustain life on the farm.

Blackwood Bees

Apis mellifera
We have 4 hives. Each hive probably holds 10,000 bees. Too many to name. They do a great job pollinating our trees, crops and flowers. They provide us with honey each year.
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Reconnect with the land, grow real food, and be a part of restoring the earth in a tangible, meaningful way.

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