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Goshen Farms seeks county approval to explore using Saline County property for sustainable farm and school "living laboratory"
Summary
Goshen Farms, a newly formed 501(c)(3), asked Saline County commissioners for informal approval to pursue funding and partnerships to develop a sustainable farm and education site on county-owned land on East Salemsburg Road.
Goshen Farms, a recently established 501(c)(3), asked the Saline County Board of Commissioners on May 6 for permission to explore using a county-owned parcel on East Salemsburg Road as a sustainable farm and outdoor classroom for area schools.
Presenter Jarrell Forbes described the organization27s goals as education and food production: to raise poultry and pork, run aquaponics using tilapia, practice rotational grazing, and donate product to the local food bank while providing school groups with a "living laboratory" for hands-on learning. Forbes said Goshen Farms moved to Kansas recently and has recruited community partners and volunteers; the group is not seeking immediate possession of the land but asked the commission for a preliminary "yes" so it can pursue funding and develop plans.
Forbes told the commission the parcel he has in mind is at 610 East Salemsburg Road, the tract near the radio tower and behind StressCast. He said water would be addressed either by a well (the more expensive option) or by pulling water from a connection point near the StressCast property; he additionally said the current lessee, "Brandon," indicated his operation uses a well.
Commissioners and staff advised Forbes that the next steps would include contacting planning and zoning and developing a lease tailored to the proposed uses; county staff said they would work with the presenter if the commission showed interest. County staff noted a lease for this kind of educational and production use would likely differ from past leases and would need to address structures, water access and any permanent fencing. Forbes said he had not yet consulted planning and zoning but intended to do so after receiving direction from the board.
Forbes also described greenhouse plans (a 20-by-40 hoop-house-style structure), winter heating strategies using solar ovens, and on-site year-round fish production in an in-ground tank under a greenhouse. He emphasized partnerships with local education and resiliency groups for programmatic support.
No formal action was taken at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to explore possibilities and indicated staff could draft lease options and identify regulatory steps if the commission wished to pursue the proposal.
