Area Farmer Makes Building Soil His Business
 | Author:
MT 43 News Staff Reporter
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Area Farmer Makes Building Soil His Business
MT 43 News Staff Reporter
Franck Groeneweg, a South Broadwater dryland farmer, is not afraid to get his hands dirty in the cool spring soil on his place out on Price Road near Three Forks. Groeneweg, of Dutch descent, was raised in France and attended Agronomy School there in the early 90’s. He fell in love with working in the soil on farms in northwest Iowa and in Saskatchewan, Canada, before coming to the United States. He and his wife, Kari, purchased the Folkvord place four years ago.
Both he and Kari are passionate about regenerative farming, which they define as “putting the life back in soil.” Instead of continuing to take nutrients from the soil, these farmers cut down use or completely discontinue the use of heavy chemical fertilizers. Regenerative farming improves soil biology according to Franck. To replenish the soil, they alternate crops with chickpeas, mustard, flax, buckwheat and canola which replenish the nitrogen used up by the wheat.
“We slowly rebuild the soil which has become caked, dried and depleted of nutrients and the basic minerals needed to nourish plants,” Franck explained. He demonstrated by pulling up a winter wheat plant which barely had come through the ground to show how the little hairy roots die back, but good, strong tap roots reach down for moisture further down in the ground. Most noticeable were how the 4-inch plants lay in deep furrows, to catch any moisture that might fall during winter and spring storms. He noted eventually the earthworms return to aerate the soil to collect moisture. He adds compost to the mix to build up the biochemistry of the soil.
Even in dry conditions of climate change their choice of wheat varieties flourish. The Groenewegs located these types of ancient grains in Italy where they grow well in the same high, dry soils as are in this area. The grains are hard White Wheat and Rouge de Bordeau red wheat, originally grown in France. He told a funny story: An unsolicited email came to him from a fertilizer producer asking him to send in a sample of his seed to learn what level of nutrients the seed contained. He did send in a sample. Back came the email: “Your seeds are amazingly high in nutrients. You sure don’t need our product!”
Groeneweg explained he has his wheat tested regularly to ensure the correct levels of the 16 basic elements are present for good nutrition. That high nutrition shows in regular testing thus transferring to the finished product of their milled wheat flour. Occasionally the element boron is missing which he adds through a slurry process.
Conversation surrounded the idea that so many people suffer from allergies related to gluten. According to Franck, he has reason to believe the problem is much of the wheat flour on the market today is full of additives from artificial fertilizers which make people’s bodies revolt.
Their farm, Living Sky Grains, is located at the top of the hill before traveling down to the Three Forks junction. They grow, mill and package their products at the farm. Kari was pleased with their new designation as 2024 Best in Show at the Made in Montana show in Helena March 8.
“As people stopped by our booth we were able to engage with hotel managers, restaurant owners and the public by being a voice for Montana agriculture,” The hard white wheat flour is sold at Three Forks Market, Town and Country stores in Belgrade and Bozeman and Real Food Store in Helena. It may be purchased at the farm by ordering online at livingskygrains.com.
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PhotoCredit: MT 43 News Staff Photographer
Image 1 Caption: Kari Groeneweg displays her farm's wheat products at her home located on Highway 287 near Three Forks.
MT 43 News Staff Photographer
Image 2 Caption: Franck Groeneweg digs up a tiny white wheat plant on his Price Road acreage near Three Forks.
MT 43 News Staff Photographer
Image 3 Caption: Franck displays the tiny hairy roots and tap roots of a hardy white wheat plant.
MT 43 News Staff Photographer
