Welcome to our homestead. Ours is a unique homestead in that we live with nature versus against it. Our homestead is situated on six acres in the Appalachian foothills of Northwest Georgia. We (Andrew and Shelby Register) along with our dogs and our menagerie of animals call The Preserve at Uppsala our home. We have worked on and have traveled the United States and have seen the damage traditional agricultural practices have done to the ecosystems in which they exist. The soil is dry and depleted of nutrients to the extent that chemical nutrients have to be applied; livestock is often removed by physical or lethal means; native trees and plants are wiped clear to make room for crops and livestock operations. We decided to step away from the more commercial type of farms and farming methods and focus on methods that would work with nature and the landscape versus against it while also becoming more resilient and self-sufficient.
Some examples of methodology that we use or intend to use include the following:
- Rainwater collection to irrigate the gardens
- Planting sacrifice gardens for wild animals and pest control
- Planting wildlife gardens to support songbirds, mammals, reptiles, and insects
- No-till garden method using organic compost and local mulch (often from some trees on the property)
- Use of OMRI-approved pesticides versus traditional chemicals
- Retain rotten / old trees on the property for bird habitat
- Leave 75% of nuts and berries on the trees and bushes (or on the ground after they have fallen) to provide sustenance for wildlife
- Responsible harvesting of livestock for food supply; using ALL of the animal
