Seven Songs Organic Farm

About Seven Songs Organic Farm

Melissa Driscoll of Seven Songs Organic Farm in Kenyon, Minnesota, developed an interest in sustainable farming at an early age. She sold garden vegetables alongside her mother at farmers’ markets and raised chickens for 4H. As a young adult, Melissa continued her interest in farming and worked with the Philadelphia Community Farm CSA in Osceola, Wisconsin, and at Gardens of Eagan Organic Farm in Eagen, Minnesota, selling wholesale to co-operatives in the Twin Cities. After searching for nearly three years along with her husband, Jay, Melissa bought the land that would become Seven Songs Organic Farm in early 2010. “It was a challenge, but we learned a lot during our long search for this land. We’re always happy to talk with other beginning farmers about our experience and the resources we’ve found helpful for finding land,” Melissa says. The farm is located on seven acres of gently rolling hills between Kenyon and Wanamingo, Minnesota with excellent black prairie soil, a large barn, a granary building used as a chicken coop, and a moderate-sized hoop house for growing produce out of season. Melissa raises AWA Delaware breed laying hens, which she chose because of their love of foraging and the large brown eggs they lay. “The most important aspect of how we raise chickens is the fact that they can range in a large outdoor yard at will during the day and can therefore do normal chicken activities like establish a pecking order, dust-bathe, search for green growing food and insects to eat, and wander through the tall grass,” says Melissa. The hens eat all organic egg layer mash and grains, which Melissa feels is important to support a more sustainable farming system. She is also preparing to be able to hatch all her replacement stock under broody hens, eliminating the need to buy chicks to replace older birds. “Our goal is that all our hens are hatched on the farm and raised by a mother hen, and that they live on the farm for two or more years,” Melissa explains. “When it’s time, we drive our old hens about 15 minutes to a local on-farm slaughter plant for butchering and eat them ourselves.” Melissa chose to join the AWA program because she believes that raising chickens according to its standards is the right way. She also recognized the importance of certification in proving to her customers that she really is doing what she says she’s doing: “Once we were in the certification process we were impressed with the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of the standards. We had to change a feed ingredient and learning why was very educational.” Seven Songs Organic Farm eggs are currently sold in St. Paul once a week. Customers interested in purchasing eggs are encouraged to call the farm directly to be added to the egg waiting list (507) 789-8868.