Farming Holistically

Marvin and Ruth Duhn raise both crops and sheep on their 117 acre farm near Alexandria, Minnesota. Driven by a longstanding interest in holistic health, their farming philosophy is intertwined with a commitment to the health of humans and the environment. Out of concern about the number of petroleum-based chemicals and plastic products used in conventional agriculture, Marvin and Ruth switched to organic production.

An Emphasis on Variety

Marvin’s organic produce includes growing a variety of small grains:

* hull-less oats,
* winter wheat,
* barley and
* buckwheat and alfalfa for hay.

He also grows buckwheat to disk in for weed control. All the crops Marvin grows feed the sheep. The Duhn’s also grow vegetables and herbs in their garden, which they sell to nearby restaurants in Alexandria. Eventually, Marvin hopes to switch from small grains, increase his vegetable production and possibly add some berries to “reduce the time spent in the tractor.”

Bred Naturally

Marvin and Ruth have a herd of 28 ewes for sheep production. They raise both Hampshire and Hampshire-Montdale breeds for production. The sheep are bred naturally on the farm. During the first 6-8 weeks, the ewes and lambs are kept in the confinement of the barn in boxstalls deeply bedded with straw. The lambs are typically weaned at 40-50 pounds.

Once the pastures dry out and are well-established in the late spring, the sheep are let out to pasture. Marvin prefers feeding his sheep a grass and hay based diet because he believes the sheep gain weight more slowly, creating leaner, more valuable meat. Marvin also feeds the sheep probiotics, which are naturally occurring bacteria that help the sheep break down and utilize the food in their rumen more efficiently.

Marvin’s sheep are then sold at the local Whole Farm Cooperative in central Minnesota. A life-long farmer who moved his family from Iowa to Minnesota, Marvin believes that “all you can do is your own little part” for making the world a better place. He considers his part to be producing food “that is healthy and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.”