THE FARMERS
We are André & Lillie Eisenbeis, high school sweethearts who grew up five miles apart near Freeman, SD. Inspired by our parents and fueled by everything we had come to understand about farming, environmental health, and food systems, we made the easy decision to return home shortly after getting married and begin planning a farming endeavor of our own. In 2018, we were able to move onto a family acreage and build our dream. Our little loves, Jesse (4) and Willa (2), have doubled our family along the way!
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We have degrees in agriculture & environmental science and have each had the privilege of interning with successful market gardeners, including Ben Hartman (author of The Lean Farm) of Clay Bottom Farm in Goshen, IN. ​In 2017, we spent two glorious months working & learning on farms in France through the WWOOF program.
We are passionate about food and strengthening rural communities through diversified small-scale agriculture & local food systems. For us, farming is a lifestyle anchored in values of creation care and simple living. We love being able to provide for ourselves & make simple (and occasionally fancy) meals that nourish and satisfy.
Andre's family (5th Generation Farm/ Happy Grazing Dairy) sells raw organic milk door-to-door in the greater Sioux Falls area. Lillie's family (Turkey Ridge Creek Farm) raises purebred shorthorn cattle and row crops. Lillie's mom (almost single-handedly!) grows all the potatoes, sweet corn, melons, and squash sold through Prairie Roots. Both families have been instrumental in forming our vision and helping our farm become reality.
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Read the Article Written about Prairie Roots in the Sept. 2022 Farming Families Magazine
THE FARM
Prairie Roots was established in 2018 on Lillie's Grandmother's farm. The name "prairie roots" is formed from the idea that both of our families have farmed in this area for many generations, and we are proud to be returning to our roots. Together with 2-4 part-time employees, we keep our 1.5 acres of veggies in production, selling at the Freeman & Yankton farmers markets as well as a few wholesale accounts 6 months of the year.
Our growing space is enough to supply many families with food, but small enough for us to farm by hand with minimal fossil fuel inputs. Because we use the 30" permanent bed system and succession plant two or more crops on most beds each season, having the right tools for the right scale is crucial to success. We utilize a propagation greenhouse and 4 small tunnels to extend our season. The more space-intensive crops are grown by Lillie's mother on another several acres over at Turkey Ridge Creek Farm.
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Prairie Roots is also home to a flock of laying hens, occasional broilers, some overly-affectionate cats, and our loyal Pyrenees mix Greta. We sell free-range eggs & pastured whole chickens at markets, along with all the veggies and Lillie's homemade soap.
GROWING PRACTICES
We are proponents of regenerative agriculture.
Regenerative ag is a conservation and rehabilitation approach to food and farming systems. It focuses on regenerating topsoil, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle, enhancing ecosystem services, supporting biosequestration, increasing resilience to climate change, and strengthening the health and vitality of farm soil.
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Building a healthy soil that supports vibrant, nutrient-dense plants is our number-one priority. We follow organic practices but are not certified organic. We rely on compost, leaf & straw mulch, and cover crops to provide long-lasting fertility. We grow crops in intense succession so that we always have living roots in the soil. For pest control, insect netting and floating row covers are the primary defense, combined with the occasional OMRI certified spray. We are also adopting more no-till and minimal till practices to hold more soil carbon as well as maintain a healthy soil structure and rich soil biology.
