Thank you for taking the time to read about Misty Dawn Farm, and for your invaluable support in helping us overcome recent setbacks on our journey toward a sustainable future. Together we will create a shining example of agroforestry and regenerative agriculture, offering educational and agritourism opportunities. With vision, perseverance, and the concern of good people, we will help lead the way to healing our land and ourselves.

As the child of European immigrant parents with roots in the land, I learned a deep sense of the care and respect due to the earth and its creatures, in all their diversity, and the critical need to sustain it. I dedicated my career to environmental conservation, working and teaching best practices in water resources management to farmers and interested citizens.

Then one day I had a revelation of sorts. I was clearing the “waste” left behind after we had a timber harvest on land I owned, when I decided I would learn to grow shiitake mushrooms on those logs. I became passionate about the amazing benefits and regenerative properties of mushrooms for our earth and people. As president of the Shiitake Growers Association, I conduct lectures and training across the Midwest, sharing my knowledge and inspiring others to embrace growing mushrooms and sustainable farming practices.

This life-changing experience set me on the path where I now find myself, many years later, still hard at work when I might be “retired,” and trying desperately to preserve a legacy of regenerative agriculture.

The legacy of Misty Dawn Farm. The farmhouse, built before 1858, is a testament to the enduring spirit of Rock County's earliest pioneers. In an act of visionary stewardship, the previous owners planted nearly 4,000 sugar maple trees, a diverse orchard, and windbreak pines on just over 19 acres ̶ laying the foundation for an agroforestry oasis. Because sugar maple trees take 40-50 years to mature, they knew that the task and the opportunity to tap those trees and taste their syrup would be left to future generations. And yet, to their enduring credit, they planted them.

I bought the farm in 2021, sinking my life savings into the purchase. I wanted to preserve its ecological and historical value and prevent it from becoming a salvage yard. I am resolved to nurture the vision of Rock County’s original settlers who set an example of resilience and tenacity and committed to ensuring that the farm not only survives but thrives in the face of climatic and other unforeseen challenges.

It is a monumental undertaking. The property was sorely neglected for over a decade. The obstacles have extended well beyond making the necessary renovations to the crumbling farmhouse and caring for the livestock and trees. In just three years we've faced droughts, floods, and a devastating tornado. There's no denying the challenge has exceeded my resources. But my belief in the farm's potential and my commitment to transforming adversity into opportunity hasn't wavered.

What's more, my dedication to sustainable practices remains steadfast. I have expanded my log-grown shiitake mushroom operation, incorporating rescue animals to enhance soil health, and am working to diversify the farm's produce. Yes, the storm left fallen sugar maple trees, but they are ideal for growing lion’s mane mushrooms. Plans to replace the uprooted orchard with an even greater diversity of fruits, nuts, and berries are underway.

Misty Dawn Farm is a place where history and sustainability intertwine, where every tree tells a story. It's a living testament to the vision of those who came before us. Regenerative agroforestry is the epitome of collaboration and empathy between humanity and nature. Every aspect of our work embodies this partnership, fostering relationships that are crucial for our collective survival.

But this beloved sanctuary needs your help.

What do we need? Capital. Your contribution will go toward essential infrastructure, crop diversity, community education, and agritourism opportunities. Our production facilities and equipment need work, as does the agroforestry demonstration site. Storm damage remains, and we need to put fallen trees into service growing more mushrooms.

By joining me in preserving this legacy of love and resilience, you become part of a movement that nurtures both land and soul. Your interest and support mean the world to me. I thank you and warmly invite you to visit the farm and become part of our story.

There are 5 main projects that will help me from losing the farm. These include: