Stories of the Heartland September 2026 | Page 17

hometownsource. com / heartland / Stories of the Heartland • Sunday, September 20, 2026 Page 17

What began with a single 40-acre parcel 10 miles north of Sauk Centre has grown over more than four decades into a 525-acre village of homes, gardens, orchards, pastures and workshops. Annie Welck, Camphill’ s development and outreach manager, said the additional land was acquired“ piecemeal” over the years.

Agriculture extends well beyond the vegetable beds. About 125 acres are managed for rotational grazing of beef cattle, another 70 acres are permanent pasture and 10 acres have been restored as native tallgrass prairie. Camphill also raises chickens and sheep.

Seven homes are scattered throughout the property. Most are licensed for four villagers. When fully occupied, Camphill can accommodate about 30 villagers, part of a larger residential community of about 50 people.

The gardens are an important part of a food system that allows Camphill to grow, harvest and preserve much of what the community eats throughout the year.

“ We’ re able to grow and harvest and process about 70 % to 75 % of the food our community needs throughout the year,” Welck said.

Vegetables harvested in the fields travel only a short distance before arriving at the harvest kitchen, where villagers and coworkers wash, blanch, freeze and can produce for winter meals. Apples from the orchard become juice. Bread and other baked goods come from the village bakery.

For Michieli, the growing season begins in the greenhouse while winter still has its grip on Minnesota.

“ We have a greenhouse here, and we start seeds in March and onward, and then we outplant at the end of May,” she said.

From there, the garden fills with onions, lettuce, kale, collards, green beans, peppers, carrots, winter squash, cauliflower and eggplant. Rather than concentrating on a single crop, Camphill favors

diversity, companion planting and crop rotation.

“ We just make it really diverse here in general,” Michieli said.

The approach is part of the biodynamic farming that first attracted her to Camphill. Biodynamic agriculture views a farm as an interconnected whole, with soil, plants, animals and people functioning as parts of the same living system.

“ We try to make a relationship with the beings of nature,” Michieli said.

Villagers work alongside volunteers and coworkers seeding trays, transplanting seedlings, weeding and harvesting. During the growing season, the amount of work outside increases, drawing people from other workshops to help.

The work of the day Morning and afternoon workshops provide much of the structure for weekdays at Camphill.

“ The workshops are person-cen-

Camphill Minnesota

Camphill Minnesota villager John plays with a cat at the residential community located in Central Minnesota near Sauk Centre. About 50 villagers call Camphill home.

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