Ironbound Farm

Ironbound Farm is a 108-acre transitional organic regenerative farm in the New Jersey Highlands. Our crew uses regenerative farming practices to manage our vegetable crops, infusion plantings, and our extensive orchard of heritage cider apples. Our orchard features some of the East Coast’s largest planting of Newark’s own Harrison apple — early America’s most renowned cider apple.

Managing crops without the conventional chemical arsenal is a huge challenge, but regenerative farming enables us to grow highly flavorful fruit and vegetables while protecting the Highlands’ residents, waterways, soil, air, and wildlife.

INTEGRATED DIVERSITY
= RESILIENCY

Ironbound Farm is dedicated to growing healthy food which is produced using resilient ecological stewardship. We are a transitional organic farm, and never use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.

We value collaboration over competition to inspire a new culture of eating and living in central New Jersey and beyond.

THE PRINCIPLES OF REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

• Farmers work to progressively improve the entire farm ecosystem, including soil, water, and biodiversity 

• Farmers design systems and make decisions about farming practices that are specific to their farm

• Farmers develop just, reciprocal relationships with and among all stakeholders, including farmworkers, customers, suppliers, neighbors, employees, and fellow farmers and food artisans

• Farmers continually strive to create conditions that help every member of the farm community, including crops and livestock, realize their/its full innate potential

REGENERATIVE FARMING PRACTICES USED AT IRONBOUND

• Application of farm-made compost and compost teas

• Minimizing soil disturbance through tillage

• Integrating livestock into our farm to provide fertility and pest management

• Cover cropping

• Focusing on perennial crops

• Agroforestry

• Reintroducing native plants

• Planting wildflower meadows to attract and support beneficial insects