Welcome to Aullwood 91°µÍø’s farm in partnership with Friends of Aullwood! Aullwood’s farm works in concert with a variety of conservation principles both for the protection of the environment, the creation of bird-friendly habitat, and the preservation of rare and endangered farm animals. Our exhibits and programs provide fun and informative ways to learn about this mission.
Aullwood’s farm features a number of species of rare livestock commonly called heritage breeds. These breeds were raised by our forefathers and thrived on small family farms. Their numbers are declining due to large commercial farming. It is important to conserve these rare breeds because of their unique genetic traits which include greater resistance to parasites, excellent mothering skills, and their ability to forage, to name a few. Some examples include the Belted Galloway cow, Tunis sheep, Guinea Hogs, and a wide variety of heritage breed chickens. The majority of these breeds are small and efficient, having a reduced carbon footprint and making them ideal for a family farm. Some even prefer to dine on local invasive species, making them ideal for conservation land management.
Aullwood Farm does not use pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. All animals are rotationally grazed.
Aullwood’s farm sells many types of eggs to the public, including turkey, quail (a gourmet favorite) and our rainbow-colored heritage chicken eggs (large sized).
In 2019, the Dayton Conservation Fund and the Miami Conservancy District funded water quality improvement plan development on the farm property. This resulted in the design of a variety of mitigation techniques for cleaning and slowing run-off into Wiles Creek. This included an experimental planting of tallgrass prairie to remediate run-off from composting.
Please note that Aullwood's Farm Discovery Center, farm yard, barns, buildings and trails are smoke-free. No smoking is permitted in any location at any time.
Start your farm visit at the Charity A. Krueger Farm Discovery Center. The Discovery Center welcomes visitors and is the educational gateway to Aullwood Farm. It is the primary educational facility for our agricultural and nature programs and also houses farm offices, learning classrooms where classes such as our annual candle dipping workshops are held, interactive farm exhibits, the Liz Wyse auditorium as well as the Miami Valley Child Development Center (MVCDC) Head Start Preschool.
You will find the large Farm Yard, used for various Aullwood events, just behind the Discovery Center. School groups and visitors can picnic there on sunny days, and kids can climb on the vintage tractor and play in the sand pit. On one side of the Farm Yard is the Wyse Pavilion, a central location from which one can admire the farm's buildings, landscape and animals.
´¡³Ü±ô±ô·É´Ç´Ç»å’s Bank Barn is built in the German heritage style of the 1800’s. The foundation is constructed of limestone and small glacial boulders gathered from fields. (If you look closely, you may see fossils in the limestone blocks.) The beams were hand hewn from local hardwoods and are attached by wooden pegs. The longest beam is from a tulip tree and is as long as a 6 story building. A grassy slope leads to the upper level where hay, and straw are stored. The lower level houses a variety of livestock including horses, goats, pigs, cattle, sheep, and other species seasonally. Pastures and buildings around the barn provide habitat for cattle, horses and goats.
Spring Houses like the one at Aullwood were a common feature on many farms in the past. Cool spring waters helped keep milk, cheese, eggs, and other perishables fresh. An adjacent windmill pumps water from the spring to a small stream and wet meadow. Wildflowers and wetland animals find a home here. Look for long-tailed salamanders and crayfish in the water.
The Duck Pond is at the far end of the Farm Yard. Standing on the observation deck here, you can see native wetland plants and animals. Ducks, herons, raccoons, deer, foxes, and coyotes are frequent visitors to the area. The Duck Pond was enlarged in 2004 to provide new educational opportunities.
The spectacular Greenview Garden Club’s Herb Garden can be found by following the access road. This garden has been tended for more than three decades, and is home to both native and non-native herbs. Be sure to watch the sundial’s shadow change.
The compact Children’s Garden features a wide variety of vegetables and herbs. Here you can learn about raised bed gardening, composting, mulching and crop rotation. The wide variety of colorful and fragrant plants make this a fun introduction to gardening.
The 15 acre Sugar Bush woodland features sugar maples and other native hardwoods like beech and cherry. On a walk through the sugar bush, you may spot owls, pileated woodpeckers, wildflowers and a host of mammal species, and in spring, a fantastic array of ephemeral wildflowers.
Don't forget to keep your eyes open for birdwatching opportunities at the Farm as well. The many fields and hedgerows at the farm provide habitat for resident and migrant grassland bird species such as Eastern Meadowlarks, Savannah Sparrows, Grasshopper Sparrows, Killdeer and Red-winged Blackbirds. Forest edge species such as Indigo buntings can also be seen. During the day, you can also see Red-tailed and Cooper Hawks hunting and at dusk, if you are lucky, you will see our resident Great Horned Owl.
After your farm visit, be sure to enjoy a scenic walk through our Nature Sanctuary using our many trails. Enjoy all that Aullwood has to offer!
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