Stewards of Biodiversity

Since they first took a holistic management course in 1995, Don and Marie Ruzicka have been striving to farm in a way that considers the broader ecosystem, aiming to promote and sustain biodiversity by mimicking the native prairie landscape and local waterbodies, and working with natural processes. 

The Ruzickas worked to rejuvenate their land, understanding that soil health is at the core of healthy crops, native plants and animal health. To recreate some of the diverse range of plant species in native pasture, the Ruzikas seeded alfalfa along with several grasses and fescues. Crop rotation also helped prevent widespread disease and pest problems.

The Ruzickas started rotational grazing in 1997, also letting cattle forage in native pasture that was unsuitable for crops. The foraging livestock’s movement minimized overgrazing and helped control weeds, while manure replenished soil nutrients. 

Biodiversity on farms makes both the surrounding ecosystem and the farm itself more resilient. In 1992, the Ruzickas partnered with Ducks Unlimited to create a 38-acre wetland. In 1999, they fenced off nine dugouts to protect the farm’s riparian areas, and joined the Iron Creek Watershed Improvement Society in the fall of 2000.

The Ruzickas also partnered with the Alberta Woodlot Extension Society (AWES) to rebuild shelterbelts to attract pollinators and increase habitat for birds and wildlife. Since 2003, they have planted over 16 species of trees for a total of more than 45,000 trees and shrubs. These shelterbelts not only help stop wind, they help retain water after snow and rain and provide critical food and habitat for pollinators, birds and wildlife. 

Attracting birds means keeping insect populations in check without the use of insecticide, and the Ruzickas have 97% occupancy in 240 bird houses across the property. Professor Glen Hvenegaard (UAlberta Augustana Campus) has been conducting bird counts on the property since 2004. Cumulatively, there have been 99 species found on the farm, with the greatest number of species consistently found in the wetland habitat of the property. Some of the more unusual birds seen on the farm include the Western Wood-Pewee and the Grey Catbird.