Earth-Be-Glad Farm is located in the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota. Situated at the head of Rupprecht's Valley, the farm was settled in 1854 by Mike's great-great grandfather. Mike's ancestor was forced to give up valley farming in 1914 after repeated flooding due to poor farming and tillage practices on the ridges. Jennifer and Mike have made it their goal to farm these same hilltops in a manner which will prevent erosion, and actually restore fertile soil, so that their descendants can enjoy a place of bounty and beauty.
The Rupprechts believe that permanent, well-managed pasture is the best use of this highly erodible land, and they are proud to be Food Alliance Certified. "Livestock are an important part of the whole system," Mike explains. "They provide a critical source of minerals for the land - actually fertilizing the land with manure as they graze." The Rupprechts raise 200 to 250 cows a year using a carefully managed grazing system. Pastures are divided into paddocks so the cattle can be moved daily from one section of pasture to another, providing the animals with a lush, green "salad bar‚" everyday.
Jennifer and Mike try to imitate a prairie ecosystem on their farm, planting a variety of species in the pasture, including native prairie species in some paddocks. As the plants grow and decay, their roots hold the soil in place and nourish it, similar to the grasslands of the prairie. The Rupprechts also leave a paddock or two ungrazed for ground-nesting birds such as bobolinks, and other wildlife.
