Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA NA . C O M 53 ABC Acres' owners Tim and Sarah South- well could not have been more welcoming. Tall and lanky with a big stride and grin, Tim walked towards me as I drove down the driveway. From our first meeting, I recognized him as a man of passion with a burning desire to harness nature's energy and resilience to improve the ways we manage our lands, feed ourselves, and connect as families and communities. Together with farm manager, Grant Shadden, Tim spent the next several hours guiding me through their beautiful farmstead along the Bitterroot River, surrounded by the Sapphire and Bitterroot Mountains. I had never heard the term "permaculture" before. But I soon learned that ABC Acres takes the traditional definition of sustainable and self-sufficient agricultural ecosystems to an entirely new level. e Southwells are interested in using nature's regenerative properties to revitalize lands that had been despoiled by previous land use practices or disturbances. ey see ABC Acres as an experimental farm where they can develop new methods of increasing soil health and achiev- ing greater productiv- ity of chemical-free and humanely raised livestock in a financially sustainable manner. It's a tall order; and they are making tremendous progress. A critical part of their mission is educa- tion. ey experiment not only for them- selves, but to share with others and help create community cen- tered around healthy living. To that end, they have initiated several programs. Lovely Farm Stay guest hous- es with a whimsical children's treehouse offer visitors opportunities to relax and enjoy western Montana's many recreational opportu- nities as well as participate in farmstead activities to learn firsthand how to employ nature's powers to improve their own backyards. Self-guided farm tours with informational kiosks showcasing the concepts underlying various natural installations invite overnight and day visitors to wander the property and learn about the natural processes at play. Public events and workshops along with organiz- ing the Bitterroot Valley Permaculture Group have gotten local residents engaged, exchanging ideas, and supporting one another. by SUZANNE MILLER T HE LEAD TO THE MISSOULIAN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE IS WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE: "Lessons to be learned: ABC Acres hoping to become a center of new-age agriculture in the Bitterroot Valley." While Dunrovin is a guest ranch focused almost exclusively on horses, we do face many agricultural challenges supporting our equine herd with sufficient and nutritious pastures and managing our orchard and large garden. For years we've struggled with balancing our desire to protect humans, horses, and wildlife by avoiding herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers with our desire to maximize the productivity of our land. ere's a lot to learn and we've heard a lot of conflicting ideas about how to achieve our goals. With that in mind, I thought " what the heck", I'll just call up ABC Acres to see if I can come for a tour. Scottish Highlands cattle Kitchen in guest house

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