GROWING PRACTICES

Cottonwood Farm is a organic fruit orchard. Our farmer and orchardist, Stacy Nelson-Heising believes that each farm is a unique individual and that it is her job to nurture her farm’s distinctive personality by using organic and Biodynamic® growing methods.

In our orchard, gardens, and farmyard you will see a wide mixture of plant and wildlife. Our apple trees grow alongside alfalfa, native prairie flowers and grasses, dandelions and what most people consider to be weeds. This assorted plant life attracts pollinators. You’ll see scores of butterflies and bees that call Cottonwood Farm home. We encourage birds to make nests in our fruit trees. Our resident birds offer great natural pest control. We will have a peck on an apple from time to time, but we don’t have chemical residue on our apples.

Biodiversity in plant life, wildlife, and soil life help us craft a more flavorful apple with a concentrated taste that represents our farm’s special “terroir.” Terroir is a French concept recognized by wine producers and chefs. Terroir gives a mention to a farm’s particular climate, soil type and growing conditions and is the unique spirit of the land and farm. By using organic growing methods Stacy is able to make Cottonwood a chemical-free farm that produces chemical-free produce. In addition to organics, Stacy uses Biodynamic® preparations and follows Biodynamic® principles. She is able to care for our farm’s individual terroir, something Stacy believes in.