Biodiversity on the Farm

Our Cacao

At Ocean Grace Farms, nearly all of our cacao trees are grafted, and we proudly cultivate over 10 varieties! These varieties have been carefully selected and grafted with the expert assistance of Cacao Services.

Grafting is a process where a small piece from a desirable tree, known as the budwood or scion, is attached to another tree. The two pieces fuse together, and the budwood grows, effectively replacing the old tree. This technique is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve yields, flavor, disease resistance, and growing characteristics. It also ensures we know exactly what we are growing.

Unlike grafted trees, those grown from seed are a genetic mix of the mother and father trees, which can result in unpredictable outcomes. While you might end up with an exceptional new hybrid, there's also a risk of producing less desirable trees.

Grafted trees can increase overall farm yield significantly. On our small 3-acre farm, we strive to maximize our space and boost our yields while producing the best-tasting cacao. Grafting helps us achieve these goals, ensuring that we cultivate robust, high-quality cacao trees.

An image of a cacao tree loaded with pods.

Flora, Fauna, and Funga

  • Calendula plant

    Calendula

    Calendula officinalis

    Calendula is a valuable companion plant that attracts pollinators and wards off pests. Its flowers have been used for centuries in medicinal tinctures, ointments, and washes to treat burns, bruises, and cuts. Calendula draws bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects and can also serve as a trap crop for aphids.

  • A comfrey plant

    Comfrey

    Symphytum officinale

    Comfrey has a very long taproot and is able to reach minerals deep below the soil and draw them to the surface. It’s what’s known as a dynamic accumulator and is great for making compost tea or chop & drop! Also known as “knitbone,” comfrey can be used topically to heal burns, sprains, swelling, and bruises.

  • Mushrooms growing on the farm, beneath a comfrey plant.

    Mushrooms

    Our farm is loaded with fungi of all sorts! Pictured here are wood plewits (clitocybe nuda), an edible mushroom with a lavender hue.

    In the words of Paul Stamets, “fungi are the grand recyclers of our planet, the mycomagicians disassembling large organic molecules into simpler forms, which in turn nourish other members of the ecological community. Fungi are the interface organisms between life and death.”

  • An up-close image of a borage plant.

    Borage

    Borago officinalis

    Borage is a beautiful plant beloved by pollinators and deterring pests. As a dynamic accumulator, its deep roots pull trace minerals to the surface, benefiting its growth and that of neighboring plants. Borage is also excellent for composting and mulching. It contains essential fatty acids that can improve mood and reduce feelings of depression. Additionally, borage is an anti-inflammatory and is rich in calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, and vitamins B and C. Both its flowers and leaves are edible!

  • Bodhi smelling a calendula flower.

    Wild Bodhi

    Bodhi exploratis

    Often found picking and sniffing calendula flowers, splashing in puddles, and chasing May and Noah (the dogs) around the farm, this little tree hugger is always on an adventure, turning the farm into a playground of discovery and fun!

  • Yarrow flowers up-close.

    Yarrow

    Achillea millefolium

    Yarrow is a versatile herb that attracts many beneficial insects and serves as an excellent companion plant. It is rich in essential minerals, including calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, and sulfur. Additionally, yarrow flowers help fix carbon, nitrogen, and other elements from the air.

  • Chamomile flowers up close.

    Chamomile

    Matricaria recutita

    Chamomile is a calming herb known for its stress-reducing properties. In the garden, its roots loosen compacted soil, enabling other plants to thrive alongside it. Chamomile also accumulates calcium, sulfur, and potassium, making it an excellent ingredient for compost tea to nourish your plants.