Rainmaker Farm
Rainmaker Farm is the Gulch Environmental Foundation’s cornerstone project, a 160-acre working farm located in Noble County, Oklahoma.
There is a lovely little creek that runs through the farm and two ponds. At the start of this project, the property consisted of tilled farmland used for conventional wheat production, cattle grazing, and an oil rig. The oil rig was the first thing to go. We have spend the last few years transforming the property into a perennial regenerative, no-till farm with diverse crops, and livestock. The lessons we learn at Rainmaker will scale to help combat climate change by making agriculture more sustainable.
During our tenure at Rainmaker Farm, The Gulch Foundation has undertaken a series of impactful initiatives, including:
- Transitioning to a no-till farming approach.
- Setting up a 100+ tree orchard with a native grass cover.
- Introducing native grasses and pollinator mixes in a buffer zone adjacent to the creek.
- Establishing border trees.
- Collaborating with the NRCS to implement soil-enriching cover crops.
- Installing a 30,000-gallon water tank for a comprehensive water catchment system,
- Constructing a greenhouse and barn.
- Integrating a Tiny House office onto the property.
These represent just a portion of our numerous endeavors. Furthermore, we’ve opened our doors to farm visitors, providing valuable insights into regenerative farming, climate change mitigation, and fostering connections among diverse individuals and communities.
Rainmaker Farm Goals
1. Carbon Sequestration
We view the farm as an instrument for immediate climate action. By revegetating this landscape and implementing regenerative practices, Rainmaker Farm aims to sequester significant amounts of carbon in the soil and biomass. Ultimately, we want the farm to function not just as an educational prototype, but as a carbon sink that can be recognized through carbon credits.
2. Soil Health
At Rainmaker Farm, one of our core goals is to breathe life back into the land by rebuilding its organic matter. Once used for oil drilling, this soil has been depleted of its natural minerals and vitality. By addressing these deficiencies, we’re reintroducing essential nutrients and cultivating an environment where vibrant, healthy soil ecosystems can once again flourish.
3. Biodiversity & Restoration
Rainmaker is committed to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity on the land. Through our regenerative practices, we hope to restore native grasses, wildflowers, pollinators, birds, and wildlife. Our vision is to create a thriving ecosystem that supports life at every level.
4. Financial Sustainability
One of our biggest goals is to prove that regenerative agriculture can be profitable, that healthy land can also mean healthy revenue streams. We want to build models that demonstrate this, showing that it is possible to farm regeneratively and keep the lights on.
5. Community & Social Outreach
While Rainmaker’s mission is grounded in ecological stewardship and financial sustainability, we recognize that meaningful farming includes connecting with the community. That’s why we’re equally dedicated to addressing the social dimensions of our work as we exchange ideas and endeavor to conduct agricultural practices that are accessible, visible, and impactful to the local community and beyond.
Reporting
When we first started, we designed planting plans and established baseline conditions for a variety of soil health and biodiversity metrics to establish a baseline of what was on the property, what differences exist between habitats, and to document trends over time and with changes to land management.
Please see our preliminary maps and baseline reports:
