To serve as a center for education, scientific research, and a demonstration of regenerative agricultural practices, highlighting the critical connection between land and ocean health. Ocean Hour Farm will provide a living example of sustainable agriculture and land stewardship – an integrated system where plants, animals, and people sequester carbon, clean stormwater, build soil and produce food and fiber for the community.
Our
Mission
Working With Nature
Ocean Hour Farm employs a whole systems approach known as permaculture (permanent + culture), which can be understood as the development of human ecosystems intended to be sustainable over a long period of time. The permaculture design methodology draws inspiration directly from nature because it provides the best examples of regeneration and resilience. The core goals of Ocean Hour Farm center on the water, carbon, and life cycles.
IMPROVE AND PROTECT WATER QUALITY
Water is essential to all life on earth. As it flows and changes state, it brings together the atmosphere, the ocean, the land, and all life forms into a complex integrated system. If water flows naturally and is clean from pollutants, the system thrives.
INCREASE CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Carbon is a key building block for all life. It has the ability to essentially recycle itself, infinitely transforming from one life form to another. But after many decades of extracting and burning fossil fuels, we have created an imbalanced carbon cycle – far too much carbon in the atmosphere and not enough in the soil. On the farm, this means sequestering carbon with year-round ground cover, layered perennial root systems, rotational grazing, and abundant communities of beneficial soil microbes.
ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY AND allow life to thrive
Biodiversity provides the resiliency for life to continue despite disturbance and volatility. Lifeforms naturally organize as functional networks or webs to get their needs met. If one life form fails, there are plenty of other connections between lifeforms to maintain the flow of basic life essentials like water, carbon, and minerals.
Regenerative Agriculture Demonstration
Regenerative land management is at the heart of Ocean Hour Farm. Our land management plan integrates plant, animal, and human systems to sequester carbon, manage stormwater runoff, promote healthy soils, and enhance biodiversity. Food and fiber are the primary products we provide to our community and partners.
Scientific Research
Ocean Hour Farm looks to collaborate with leading educational and research institutions to explore climate change impacts and resilience and land to sea connections.
Community education and engagement
Ocean Hour Farm looks to host unique experiential education and engagement opportunities to inspire future leaders. The activities of Ocean Hour Farm will support ecological and social justice efforts of the local and regional communities. The Farm is also a gathering space for demonstration, learning, and research.
Illuminate the Magic
By showcasing different facets of an intricate, integrated regenerative farming system we will encourage people to rediscover the magic of our planet.