CSC's Intentions and Visions for the
Stelle Orchard, Gardens and Pond Area

December 2004

1. We intend for this project to be of great inspiration over the long run to many that come our way as well as to our future residents of the Stelle Community .
2. We hope that we will be able to demonstrate that it is possible and more desirable, to raise abundant food using permaculture and other sustainable agriculture techniques rather than commercial farming techniques or traditional row gardening. Using such techniques this area could produce an income stream for the community.
3. We would like this to become a model for other communities; of how a group of people can work together to improve community land and create something that benefits everyone.
4. It is our desire that over time, this area could help create jobs and economic opportunity for our larger region.

The old greenhouse in the Stelle orchard minus its covering that was damaged by the wind. With a new covering and some mechanical repairs, it could be once again functional for raising crops.

1. CSC could attract a farm manager and bring on interns to work with him/her who are passionate about implementing a permaculture based food production system.
2. The orchard could be developed into a thriving organic fruit operation with the majority of the crop being sold either as fresh fruit or processed into ‘value added products' such as apple cider and wine, while keeping some percentage of the fruit available to the community for community activities, such as cider pressing.
3. The individual trees in the orchard could provide an overstory for additional crops that grow ideally underneath them such as raspberries, strawberries, certain flowers and several vegetables.
4. The alcohol still and greenhouse could be restored to functioning status. Possible results of such a restoration could include:
   • The ethanol from the still could be used as an automotive fuel source for community members and/or neighbors. A small fuel co-op could be created that would bring a level of self-sufficiency to the community/local area. Conversion of cars to run on ethanol could provide a source of income.
   • The still and greenhouse could be integrated such that the waste products from the still (heat, carbon dioxide) could be utilized in the greenhouse for enhancing plant growth
   • Plants raised in the greenhouse could be marketed into Chicago or other nearby cities as a profitable enterprise. Marketing of these products would be simplified by the many connections CSC has developed with the organic/natural food market in Illinois
   • The distiller's grains and/or other solid waste products from the still could be used for feeding a variety of livestock (chickens, sheep, hogs, cattle, fish), as a feedstock for raising mushrooms, or as a compost source for the greenhouse plants or for sale.   All of these could serve as profit centers.
   • Collaboration could be pursued with educational organizations and state and local government agencies to experiment with this model as a vehicle for revitalizing rural economies. Due to the small scale of the enterprise, experimentation could be performed on a variety of feedstocks for the still (corn, sugar beets, turnips, cattails, etc.), and in studying which livestock would be best suited to the solid waste products from a variety of feedstocks
   • This project could serve as a functioning educational center that demonstrates the advantages of utilizing waste streams as resources rather disposing of them as waste. The uniqueness of this project might attract the outside funding needed to make it a reality.
5. The garden area and two acre set-aside restored pasture (just east of the pond) could be developed into a permaculture truck garden operation with the use of swales, overstory trees (such as walnut and chestnut), different kinds of fruit trees and other fruits & vegetables.   The majority of this food could be sold through a CSA or farmers market and fresh, organic and reasonably priced food could be available to the entire community as well.
6. The pond could be reworked into a vital fresh water system that would be healthy for community folks to use, producing more and different types of food including fruits, vegetable, fish and possibly ducks.   A chinampas system, as described in the permaculture design created by the July 2004 permaculture class, might be a feasible modification to the existing pond shoreline as well.
7. A retreat center might be built consisting of a main lodge for meetings and meals with commercial kitchen/food preservation/food storage facility, spa/health facilities, meeting rooms, and lodging rooms. This facility could include several nearby small cabins (possibly strawbale) for sleeping quarters.   This could allow small groups of 5 to 20 persons to enjoy the entire area while being involved in a one day, a weekend or a week long workshop.   The cabins could be available for community members (when not being used for workshops) for quiet getaways or for an overnight campout with the kids.
8. All the food raised in the systems described here could be served in the retreat center, thus increasing profitability by adding value to the locally raised foods.
9. Several primitive and a few established campsites could be designed into the area as well.