News Archives - Greenacres Foundation

14 Sep 2026

Featured, News, Research Cassidy Harvey 0 comment

Around Greenacres – Summer 2026

Around Greenacres - Summer 2026

Growing More Than Grass: New Approaches to Sheep Health

Healthy animals are an important part of a healthy farm, and caring for them often means asking questions about how traditional practices can be improved.

This summer, Research Intern Liam Barker worked alongside the Greenacres Livestock team to explore a question in sheep health: How can parasites be effectively managed while reducing reliance on traditional chemical dewormers?

Liam’s research compared a conventional chemical dewormer with a natural deworming treatment. Throughout the project, the team monitored the sheep’s weights and fecal egg counts (FECs), which provide an indication of parasite levels within the animals.

The results offered insight into how the different approaches affected parasite levels. Sheep treated with the chemical dewormer showed an initial decrease in FECs, followed by a spike later in the summer. In comparison, sheep receiving the natural deworming treatment had more stable FECs throughout the summer.

Based on his findings, Liam recommended a three-pronged approach to managing parasites in sheep. The first is preventing infection through practices such as rotational grazing and selective breeding. The second is protecting sheep during months when worm pressure is highest by using natural remedies. When necessary, the third is treating highly infected sheep with a combination of chemical dewormers.

Liam shared his findings during his final intern presentation, bringing the project full circle and demonstrating the value of hands-on research. While parasite management remains an ongoing challenge for sheep producers, research like this helps Greenacres explore practical approaches that can support animal health while reducing reliance on chemical treatments when possible.

The Livestock team looks forward to building on what was learned and exploring how these practices may be incorporated into the care of Greenacres flocks in the future.

An Evening in the Meadow: Cincinnati Pops Comes to Lewis Township

On June 25, the sounds of the Cincinnati Pops filled the evening air at Greenacres Lewis Township as 316 guests gathered for a special outdoor concert celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Led by conductor John Morris Russell, the Cincinnati Pops performed a lively program of patriotic selections and well-known favorites. Before the music began, neighbors and community members gathered to catch up with friends, meet Greenacres staff, and learn more about the research and educational work taking place at Lewis Township.

The evening was about more than music. Opening the property to the community gave Greenacres an opportunity to listen, too. Throughout the evening, guests shared ideas about programs and experiences they would like to see at Lewis Township in the future.

Those conversations offered valuable insight as Greenacres continues to serve the surrounding community. From research and education to special events and opportunities to simply experience the land, the evening was a wonderful reminder of the connections that can grow when people come together in a special place.

We were grateful to welcome our neighbors to Lewis Township and share an evening of music, conversation, and community.

Studying the Buzz: Understanding Bee Health Across Ohio

What happens to bees when the landscapes around them change?

That is one of the questions researchers from The Ohio State University are exploring through the grant-funded project Native Bee Health and Population Dynamics Across Agricultural Landscapes. Greenacres is one of several field sites across Ohio, with research taking place at both our Indian Hill and Lewis Township properties.

The researchers are comparing conventional and diversified farming systems to better understand how different agricultural landscapes affect bee health and population genetics. Their work looks at several factors, including parasite prevalence, colony growth, and pollen preferences.

To support the study, honey bee hives, bumble bee colonies, and solitary bee nesting blocks have been established at both Greenacres sites. Researchers began collecting samples in 2025, and the work will continue through 2026.

For Greenacres, serving as a research site provides an opportunity to contribute to a broader understanding of how agricultural landscapes can support healthy pollinator populations. The information gathered through the project will help researchers develop recommendations for landowners and land managers looking to improve pollinator health and build more resilient agricultural ecosystems.

Planting for the Future: A New Native Landscape at Michaela Farm

A new landscape is taking root at Greenacres Michaela Farm.

Visitors to the garden may notice a new native planting along the garden’s outer berm. While the planting adds beauty to the landscape, its purpose reaches far beyond what meets the eye.

Agroecology is about producing food while supporting healthy ecosystems, and native plants play an important role in that work. As the berm grows, it will provide habitat for insects, birds, small mammals, and reptiles that contribute to the farm’s natural systems. It will also become an educational resource and, as the plants mature, provide native plant material that can be used for future propagation.

The planting builds on work already taking root across Greenacres. Native plantings in the Ley Field hedgerows help strengthen the farm ecosystem, while native landscapes at the Arts Center demonstrate how these plants can also create beautiful spaces for people to enjoy and learn from.

Together, these efforts are helping Greenacres develop a growing network of native landscapes. As the planting at Michaela Farm matures, it will become another living example of how agriculture, education, and ecological stewardship can grow side by side.

A Summer of Discovery: Growing the Reach of Greenacres Camps

Summer at Greenacres was a time for discovery. Each week, campers stepped into the fields, gardens, barns, and forests to learn through hands-on experiences that encouraged curiosity, confidence, and a deeper connection with the natural world.

In 2026, 950 campers spent time this summer learning, exploring, creating, and building confidence through Greenacres camps. Our 56 camp offerings operated at 94% of available capacity, reflecting the continued interest in hands-on outdoor learning.

The 2026 season also brought six new camp experiences: Enchanted Forest Camp, Barn Breakout, Flowers on the Farm, Gallop Games, Creativity Takes the Stage Mini, and Folktales at the Barn. We also expanded several popular offerings, including Survival Camp, Creekville, and Camp Green Mini at the Miami Township Community Center.

Growth was exciting, but the experience each camper took home was what mattered most. Family evaluations highlighted the care of our staff, thoughtful program design, and opportunities for children to engage deeply with the world around them.

One parent shared, “I love that they get to be in nature and in a safe environment. The ratios of adults to kids is amazing and the programming is very well thought through.”

Another parent described watching their child at camp as “pretty magical,” sharing that they had never seen him so engaged and curious before.

The summer also brought 44 Leaders in Training, our largest LIT group to date. These young leaders built confidence and leadership skills while helping create meaningful experiences for younger campers.

Learn More About Our Leaders in Training Program

17 Aug 2026

Beef, Featured, News, Research Cassidy Harvey 0 comment

Learning from the Land: A Forage Stockpiling Study at Greenacres

Research often begins with a simple question.

Can we decrease the overall number of hay bales needed through the fall and winter by increasing stockpiled grass ahead of the non-growing season?

At Greenacres Michaela Farm, we wanted to test if feeding our cattle hay earlier in the fall, while allowing other pastures to rest and grow, would create enough stockpiled forage to reduce the total amount of hay needed throughout the fall and winter when pasture growth slowed.

We put the idea to the test from September 2024 through April 2025.

What we found was not exactly what we expected, but that is one of the reasons we do research. The results gave us a better understanding of how timing, rainfall, pasture growth, and grazing management work together. They also gave us ideas about what we might do differently in the future.

Putting Stockpiling to the Test

Stockpiling is a grazing practice that allows forage to grow and accumulate in a pasture before it is needed. Instead of grazing specific fields in the fall, livestock are grazed elsewhere while the grass continues to grow. That stockpiled forage can then be grazed later, during the winter when pasture regrowth is slowest.

In September 2024, the fields at Greenacres Michaela Farm were divided in half for two treatment groups. The cattle were also divided into two groups of approximately 40 head each.

One became the Stockpiled Group. The other became the Grazed Group.

From September 1 through November 22, the Stockpiled Group stayed in one pasture and was fed bales. This allowed the Stockpiled Group’s portions of each field to rest and accumulate grass. During the same timeframe, the Grazed Group rotated through its portion of each field.

Beginning November 23, the Stockpiled Group began grazing its portions of the fields that had been allowed to accumulate forage and continued rotating through them until April, aside from the period when snow and frozen ground prevented grazing.

After completing its first rotation, the Grazed Group returned to those fields during the winter, from December 3 through March 10, for a second rotation. During this second rotation, the fields were bale grazed, meaning the cattle continued to utilize the available grass but relied primarily on hay.

Throughout the study, we tracked how many bales each group consumed, forage quantity, and forage quality.

What Happened?

After tracking the two groups from September 2024 through April 2025, we found that the Stockpiled Group used more hay, rather than less.

The Stockpiled Group consumed 260 round bales during the study, while the Grazed Group consumed 232.

For the Stockpiled Group, 78 of those bales were fed between September 1 and November 22 while the animals remained in one field and the other fields were allowed to stockpile.

The Grazed Group took a different approach, continuously grazing its available fields with two full rotations during the fall and winter.

That difference in management gave the Grazed Group the opportunity to utilize pasture regrowth after two grazing periods, rather than relying on one period of stockpiled forage.

Across the study, the Grazed Group’s portions of the fields produced 175 tons of forage, compared with 96 tons in the Stockpiled Group’s portions.

Before each pasture was grazed, we measured the amount of available forage using a rising plate meter. This allowed us to collect forage quantity data for each pasture and compare forage production between the two treatment groups and across grazing periods.

The forage yield data showed a statistical difference between the first time the fields were grazed in the fall and the second time they were grazed during the winter. Overall, the portions of the fields used by the Grazed Group produced more total forage during the study than the portions reserved for the Stockpiled Group.

Under the conditions we experienced that year, continuing to graze and returning to those fields later allowed us to make better use of the forage that grew throughout the season.

But there was an important part of the story that we could not overlook.

The weather.

A Dry Fall Made Stockpiling Difficult

We were attempting to build a forage stockpile during one of the worst droughts our region had experienced in decades. October 2024 was the second-driest October in Indiana since 1895.

Stockpiling forage works best when there is enough growth to stockpile. Without rain, growth rates slow significantly, leaving much less grass to save for later.

From August through November, Oldenburg, Indiana, received just 4.46 inches of rain, compared with a historical median of 11.04 inches. The pasture simply did not have the moisture it needed to produce the amount of forage we had hoped to stockpile.

Earlier Stockpiling May Have Been Beneficial

Because of logistical challenges, we could not begin stockpiling forage until September. The general recommendation for stockpiling in our area is to begin in early August.

Starting earlier could have given the pastures more time to take advantage of late-summer rainfall and warmer temperatures before growth slowed in November. We cannot know how much of a difference that change would have made under the drought conditions we experienced, but beginning earlier would have given the pasture more time and opportunity to grow.

Winter Brought Another Challenge

The dry fall was followed by a three-week period of heavy snow and frozen ground. During that time, neither group could effectively graze, so we exclusively fed bales to both groups.

This increased hay consumption for both groups and contributed to the Stockpiled Group’s overall total.

It was a good reminder that pasture management does not happen in a vacuum. Rainfall, temperature, ground conditions, and even a few weeks of unusual winter weather can significantly change the outcome of a grazing plan.

We Also Wanted to Know About Forage Quality

In addition to quantity, we also wanted to know what happened to the quality of the forage when we grazed the fields at different times.

Before the animals entered each field, the team collected forage samples. The forage samples allowed us to look at characteristics including crude protein, relative forage value, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, dry matter, moisture, and total digestible nutrients.

The Grazed Group grazed its portions of the fields twice: first in the fall and again in the winter. In all but one field, crude protein increased from the first grazing period to the second.

We saw a similar pattern with relative forage value, or RFV. In all but one field, RFV increased between the first and second grazing periods.

The most likely explanation for the differences between the Grazed Group’s first and second rotations is the age of the pasture regrowth. After the first grazing period, the fields had time to regrow. When the cattle returned during the winter, that regrowth was younger and more tender than the forage available during the first grazing period.

That may have contributed to the increase in crude protein and RFV we observed between the two grazing periods. The results suggest that, under these conditions, returning to pasture after a period of regrowth may improve forage quality.

Looking More Closely at the Forage

Our forage samples gave us an even more detailed picture of what was happening in the pastures. We measured several characteristics, including crude protein, available crude protein, ADF, NDF, dry matter, moisture, RFV, and TDN.

The data show that forage quality varied from field to field and across the grazing season. Looking at the individual samples also shows the difference between the Grazed Group’s first and second rotations. Generally, crude protein and RFV increased, while ADF and NDF decreased, showing improved forage quality in the more tender regrowth.

Total digestible nutrients, or TDN, gave us another way to look at the nutritional characteristics of the forage.

What Did We Learn?

The results of this study showed us that stockpiling does not always mean using less hay. During the dry fall of 2024, the Stockpiled Group consumed 260 bales compared with 232 for the Grazed Group.

But the results also showed us where we might adjust our approach in the future:

Start earlier. We would begin stockpiling in August to give pastures more time to grow before winter.

Watch the weather. When rainfall is limited, there may not be enough forage growth to build a useful stockpile.

Stay flexible. In a dry year, continuing to graze available pasture and returning to those fields later to bale graze may be more effective in reducing the total amount of bales fed than holding pasture back for an extended period.

Look at forage quality, too. In most fields, crude protein and relative forage value increased during the second grazing period, showing that when pasture is grazed can influence its nutritional value.

For us, the biggest lesson is that there is no single grazing strategy that will work the same way every year. Weather, pasture growth, timing, and livestock needs all play a role. The value of research is in learning from those conditions and using what we learn to make thoughtful decisions in the future.

Learning From What the Land Tells Us

Research does not always confirm what we expect. Sometimes, the most valuable findings come from understanding why something worked differently than we anticipated.

That was the case with this study. We set out to see if stockpiling could reduce our hay use through the winter. Under the conditions we experienced in 2024–2025, it did not. Instead, we learned more about how rainfall, timing, pasture growth, and grazing management work together.

Those lessons will help inform future grazing decisions at Greenacres. They may also be useful to other farmers considering stockpiling on their own farms.

Every farm is different, and what works in one year or one place may not work the same way in another. Our goal is not to prescribe one approach, but to ask questions, measure what happens, and share what we learn.

20 Jul 2026

News Cassidy Harvey 0 comment

Remembering a Valued Member of the Greenacres Team

Remembering a Valued Member of the Greenacres Team

The Greenacres community suffered a tremendous loss this past week with the passing of our beloved teammate, Parker Lisle. While words cannot fully express the sorrow felt by those who knew and loved him, our hearts are with his family, friends, and coworkers as they navigate this unimaginable loss.

As a member of our Buildings & Grounds team, Parker’s talent and craftsmanship helped shape Greenacres in countless ways. From repairs and improvements to the many behind-the-scenes projects that keep our farms and facilities running, his work can be found throughout our organization and will continue to serve our mission for years to come.

P1067892-2 — Parker shares his welding skills with a fellow Greenacres team member. His talent, craftsmanship, and willingness to help others can be seen in projects across Greenacres and in the knowledge he shared with those around him.

Those who knew Parker at Greenacres saw more than an employee and colleague. They saw the light of someone who genuinely loved his work, took pride in doing it well, and quietly made Greenacres a better place through his craftsmanship, humility, and willingness to help others. He found joy in his work, approaching every project with passion and quiet dedication that earned the respect of everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him.

Although Parker’s time with us was far too short, the impact of his work and the example he set will remain part of Greenacres for years to come. Every project he completed and every piece he crafted stands as a lasting reminder of a young man who found purpose in his work and left this place better than he found it.

Parker will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and will forever remain a part of the Greenacres story.

23 Jun 2026

Featured, News, Research Cassidy Harvey 0 comment

Around Greenacres – Spring 2026

Around Greenacres - Spring 2026

Growing Access: Expanding the Reach of Summer Camp

This spring, Greenacres partnered with the Community Learning Center Institute (CLCI), one of our Exploring with Grace (EWG) partners, to expand access to our summer camp experiences. Through this new initiative, 66 campers are participating in Greenacres summer camps free of charge.

Over six weeks, students are joining both full-day and half-day camps at our Indian Hill and Miami Township Community Center locations, where they are exploring gardens, meeting animals, discovering ecosystems, and learning alongside their peers. This initiative represents an important first step toward making outdoor education more accessible and creating opportunities for more young people to experience the wonder of Greenacres.

This summer also marks another exciting milestone for our youth programs with our largest Leaders in Training (LIT) group to date. Forty-four young leaders are spending their summer building confidence, developing leadership skills, and helping create meaningful experiences for younger campers.

Healthy Soil, Thriving Pastures: Exploring Organic Amendments

Every healthy pasture begins beneath the surface. At Greenacres, our Research team continues to explore how soil management practices can improve agricultural productivity while supporting long-term ecosystem health.

For years, Greenacres has used bale grazing to naturally enrich the soil before establishing new pastures. When this approach did not produce the expected results in two Lewis Township pastures, it sparked a new research question: Could other organic amendments better support pasture establishment?

The Research team evaluated compost, poultry litter, and a microbial slurry across sites with different fertility levels. Preliminary findings showed that poultry litter significantly improved grass establishment and forage yield in lower fertility soils. In higher fertility soils, poultry litter increased soil organic carbon and nitrogen, though it did not significantly affect pasture growth.

While the study continues, these early findings reinforce an important principle of land stewardship: healthy ecosystems require thoughtful, site-specific approaches. By sharing these insights, Greenacres helps provide farmers and land managers with valuable information to support resilient agricultural systems.

A Living Partnership: The Hedgerow Comes Into Its Own

What began as a collaborative planting effort in the spring of 2024 has grown into a thriving habitat filled with new life. With the help of Greenacres staff and volunteers, the largest hedgerow in Greenacres history was planted as a permanent living asset within our production spaces.

Made up primarily of native plants, the hedgerow was carefully designed to welcome beneficial birds and insects that help create a balanced and resilient garden ecosystem. As the planting entered its third growing season, it began reaching a new stage of maturity, with stronger roots, increased growth, and a growing ability to support surrounding life.

To further enhance the habitat, the Garden team added hawk posts and birdhouses, creating even more opportunities for wildlife to thrive. Through ongoing monitoring with our Research team, Greenacres documented a 27% increase in bird populations compared to 2023, with those numbers remaining consistent in the years since.

While we continue to study the full impact of the hedgerow, our Garden team observed reduced pest pressure and a greater presence of beneficial species throughout the production areas. This living partnership between plants, insects, birds, and people demonstrates the power of working with nature to create healthier, more diverse agricultural systems.

Sharing Knowledge, Strengthening Communities

The work of Greenacres reaches beyond our farms through education, research, and a commitment to sharing knowledge with our broader community.

This spring, our Livestock team welcomed local firefighters and law enforcement officers for a First Responder Livestock Emergency Training. Through hands-on experiences with cattle and horses, participants learned how to safely approach and move animals, understand flight zones, load and unload trailers, and respond more confidently during emergencies involving livestock.

The team also shared research findings with approximately 40 farmers and aspiring producers at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) conference. The presentation highlighted a Greenacres research project comparing different breeds of hogs and meat chickens, evaluating feed efficiency, production costs, and meat quality through blind taste testing.

The findings challenged common assumptions around heritage breeds. Heritage meat chickens required significantly more feed without providing a flavor experience preferred over the standard Cornish Cross breed. For hogs, most heritage breeds showed similar production efficiency and flavor profiles, while Idaho Pasture Pigs required more feed and resulted in higher production costs.

By conducting research and openly sharing the results, Greenacres helps farmers make informed decisions without requiring them to take on the financial risk of testing these questions themselves. Whether preparing first responders to care for animals during emergencies or equipping farmers with practical research, these efforts reflect Greenacres’ commitment to education, research, conservation, and being a good neighbor.

Exploring the Connection Between Farming and Human Health

In May, Greenacres welcomed community members to Nippert Barn for an evening focused on a question that connects all of us: How do the ways we grow food influence the food we eat and our overall well-being?

Guests gathered for Human Health Impacts of Farming Practices, beginning the evening with a cocktail hour featuring appetizers prepared with Greenacres-grown products. The conversation continued with Greenacres Senior Director of Research and Agroecology Chad Bitler and metabolomics expert Dr. Stephan van Vliet, who shared the final results of their collaborative research project, Regenerative Farming Systems and Their Impact on Food Quality and Human Health.

Together, they explored the connections between farming practices, nutrient density, and food quality, followed by a thoughtful question-and-answer session with attendees.

For those who were unable to join us, the presentation remains available to watch online.

Watch the Event Presentation on YouTube

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