GLADBROOK — While the topic of the evening was billed as a chance to learn more about high tunnel production, Tama County Women, Land & Legacy’s (WLL) 53rd event held in late September at Ryan and Jamie Madison’s Mad Acre Farms (MAF) in rural Gladbrook went far beyond the hoop house basics as the hosts shed light (and learning) on the hard work it takes to turn an acre of good Iowa soil into a successful small-scale market farm.

The Madisons’ four-acre farmstead, which they purchased in late 2020 after a lengthy search, is located roughly two miles northeast of Lincoln. Row crops surround the acreage for miles. The farm’s biggest claim to fame prior to the Madisons’ purchase was being featured in 2006 on the ABC series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” But these days, the star of the ‘MAF Show’ is certainly Brodie, a showy heritage tom turkey who ambled along the perimeters on Thursday, Sept. 25, during WLL’s visit.

Once the well-deserved admiration over Brodie subsided Thursday evening, the roughly 20 people in attendance took turns introducing themselves. Several of them were either neighbors or local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) customers – whom Jamie referred to as “family” – but most in the group were simply curious acreage owners, including a couple from Clutier who said they first ran across MAF on Facebook and found Jamie’s farm life posts to be “a hoot.”

The Madisons then took the floor with Ryan speaking first on the couple’s quest five years ago to purchase a small acreage.

“We wanted to be able to grow and eat from our land, but also provide people with high nutrient-dense foods,” he said in describing their goals for the acreage.

While Jamie grew up in eastern Iowa’s Linn County, Ryan spent time as a child in both Mississippi and Iowa. In addition to farming, the Madisons are parents to a 23-year-old son. They both work day jobs in the insurance industry. Sleep is a rare commodity for the first-generation farming couple.

“We do actually work from home, so we do have full-time careers [off farm],” Jamie explained. “When we moved out here, I really wasn’t into the whole garden, homesteading scene. But it kind of pulled me in.”

“We’re learning as we go,” Ryan added.

Following the introductions, the Madisons led participants on a tour beginning with their newly-cultivated wildflower meadow — a space Ryan referred to as “a work in progress” –planted on the north side of the property near a stand of white pines. The group then wound its way past a couple more small garden plots – and a loudly-cackling gaggle of white farm geese – before arriving in roughly the center of the farm at the future site of the Madisons’ third high tunnel.

“We have three high tunnels on the property,” Ryan said, using a small microphone to address the group. “The third is in pieces.”

The Madisons purchased two of their high tunnels, including the work-in-progress third, through grants administered by NRCS’s (Natural Resources Conservation Service) EQUIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) High Tunnel Initiative. According to the High Tunnel Initiative website, the program provides financial assistance to eligible farmers for both purchase and installation of high tunnel systems in order to “extend growing seasons, improve crop quality, and conserve natural resources.”

“High tunnels protect plants from severe weather and allow farmers to extend their growing seasons – growing earlier into the spring, later into the fall, and sometimes, year-round,” the website states. “And because high tunnels prevent direct rainfall from reaching plants, farmers can use precise tools like drip irrigation to efficiently deliver water and nutrients to plants. High tunnels also offer farmers a greater ability to control pests and can even protect plants from pollen and pesticide drift.”

The Madisons’ high tunnels have gotten progressively bigger since they bought their first off Craigslist a few years ago – a tunnel they affectionately call Little Debbie. The tunnel they are currently constructing is made by FarmTek.

“One of the most important things is to make sure your ground is level first,” Ryan said with a grin before later admitting they had to redo the tunnel’s footprint three different times due to unlevel ground.

Another tip Ryan gave the group was to use a pneumatic-powered post driver in order to avoid having to pound so many posts on sheer manpower alone.

“That’s how I get my anger out, pound a couple posts,” he joked.

In terms of how the Madisons utilize their high tunnels, Ryan said the tunnels have enabled them to plant some crops, including leafy greens, much earlier in the season.

“We’re out in February, March planting lettuce. It makes our growing season a lot longer.”

The Madisons also took the group through the second tunnel they constructed — Big Red — in which beans, cucumbers, and eggplant were still thriving late in Iowa’s growing season.

“We use all organic products,” Ryan explained as he stood inside the back of Big Red, while Jamie hovered near the doorway, quietly chatting with the event’s organizers. She told the newspaper Ryan is usually a fairly introverted person save for one thing – he wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to farming.

“[Farming] is his dream,” she noted, pride washing across her face as the day’s waning sunlight did the same. “His grandmother in Mississippi taught him everything.”

Before the group moved on from Big Red to the original Little Debbie, Ryan took a detour in and around a superb, robust bed of leafy greens. As people walked between the rows, a few bent down to pick a leaf or two.

“You can harvest as much as you want,” Ryan commented with a laugh.

Currently, the Madisons sell most of their produce to the local community whether that be through their CSA, farmer’s market tables, or the self-serve farmstand. They also occasionally sell to the local public school.

While standing inside Little Debbie, both Ryan and Jamie continued their live review of the three high tunnels. It was a fascinating scene to observe. As questions from the WLL group would arise, the couple called upon their own trial-and-error experiences to give honest, digestible information.

“One thing you will notice about high tunnels, everything’s planted in the ground, not in raised beds like a greenhouse,” Jamie said. A few beats later, in an effort to get the participants thinking further, she asked the group rhetorically, “If you’re not going to use electricity, how are you going to cool it?”

Roughly one hour after the tour began, the evening concluded next to the self-serve farmstand where a picturesque assortment of pumpkins and gourds awaited. Inside the stand, a refrigerated cooler held various farm products including fresh eggs.

“We’re really proud of it this year,” Ryan said. “This has been very beneficial to us.”

With the sun precariously close to the horizon, many in the group began to make their way back toward the house and their cars. One of the final topics Ryan addressed touched on his future plans including turning an old hog house into a store.

“If we can convince our son to go to culinary school, it will be a restaurant, too,” he said. “We’re trying to add things that can make money so we can quit our jobs. We gave ourselves five years to quit corporate America. … We have some big plans, just working up to them.”

“This garden and this farm knows all our secrets,” Jamie said before adding, “and it’s helped build our marriage.”

One acre of garden at a time.

Mad Acre Farms is located at 1175 F Avenue in rural Gladbrook. The farmstand is open for self-service Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Madisons accept cash, Venmo, and Paypal, while SNAP or FMNP (Farmers Market Nutrition Program) can be processed as payments Sundays from 2-6 p.m. For more information on Mad Acre Farms, visit madacrefarms.com.