Good Trouble Grove grows perennial foods, plants, and experiences for more joy and health in our lives.
We are Jӧrg, Shelly, and Ramona, a motley family. Jӧrg and Ramona, our daughter, were born in Namibia where Jӧrg’s family has been cattle farming for four generations. Shelly grew up in Michigan, far from any farm. Her conservation biology studies at UW-Madison took her to Namibia where she met Jӧrg and, well, the rest is history.
Our farm name was inspired by U.S. civil rights icon and congressman John Lewis. As he said “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, say something. Do something. Get in trouble. Good trouble.”
Discontent with status quo ag, and how unsustainable it is for farmers, families, communities, and the air, water, and soil we all depend on, we’re doing something about it. We’re bringing good trouble to the farm.
Here, with our hundreds of fruit and nut trees, pollinator patches, and grazing livestock, we’re practicing agroforestry – planting trees amongst other crops (in our case, pasture) – and striving for a whole-farm approach, which includes ecological and social aspects in the design.
This means strong and beneficial interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment while working toward a just and sustainable food system.
Join us as we grow a Good Trouble way of farming that feeds people, provides for wildlife, and restores soil and water health.
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