Rooney's Front Porch Farm

Rooney's Front Porch Farm grows its blueberries without pesticides and uses drip irrigation under a weed barrier to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and reduce herbicide use. Fertigation delivers fertilizer directly to the root zone, keeping nutrients out of the aquifer. Soil moisture sensors guide watering decisions to conserve water. The farm supports native pollinators through bee nesting sites, bunch grasses, and specifically chosen plantings, and grows trap crops such as sunflowers and triticale to draw pests away from blueberries, further reducing pesticide use. Bird boxes and dead trees attract insect-eating birds. Livestock are managed on a forage rotation to improve soil health, and no-till planting methods reduce erosion, herbicide use, and disturbance to ground-dwelling native pollinators. Half of the farm is maintained as a water recharge wetland for wildlife support and ecosystem services.