The farm sits atop what in West Michigan would be considered a high ridge.  There is a field being farmed for organic wheat and oats directly to the south so the farm enjoys full sun all summer. Sloping very gently to the north, the garden plots and pasture are free of any obstructions.  I've mown the pasture with a scythe many times so I can tell you where every rock and divot sits, and there are few.   At the wood line the property drops into the ravine of Red Mill creek.  There is some low wet ground at the bottom that would be well suited for propagating Apios Americana (ground nut), elderberry and other wet soil species.

I've had little trouble getting things to grow here.  The sandy loam soils are particularly well suited to root crops and beets the size of a baby's head are not uncommon.  I once grew a bunch of Diakon radishes that were 24 inches long, and to my surprise, not woody.  There is just enough clay to help the soil retain water in the heat of August, but not so much that it makes tilling problematic.

For those interested in the soil profile for the open ares on the farm, including the garden plots and pasture, here it is:

Marlette sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes

The Marlette series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils formed in loamy till. These soils are on till plains, ground moraines, and end moraines. Slope ranges from 2 to 12 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 838 mm (33 in), and mean annual temperature is about 8.9 degrees C (48 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic Oxyaquic Glossudalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Marlette fine sandy loam, on a 4 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

 Ap--0 to 23 cm (9 in); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) fine sandy loam, gray (10YR 6/1) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; about 1 percent fine gravel; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) thick]

 B/E--23 to 46 cm (9 to 18 in); 60 percent strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) clay loam (Bt); surrounded by or penetrated by tongues of light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) fine sandy loam (E); moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common distinct dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) clay films on faces of peds; about 1 percent gravel; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary. [10 to 36 cm (4 to 14 in) thick]

 Bt--46 to 86 cm (18 to 34 in); brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common faint dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) clay films on faces of peds; about 1 percent fine gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. [25 to 71 cm (10 to 28 in) thick]

 BC--86 to 96 cm (34 to 38 in); brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; about 2 percent fine gravel; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; neutral; clear wavy boundary. [0 to 15 cm (6 in) thick]

 C--96 to 203 cm (38 to 80 in); brown (7.5YR 5/4) clay loam; massive; firm; about 2 percent fine gravel; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

 Thickness of the solum: 64 cm (25 in) or more

 Depth to carbonates: 64 to 127 cm (25 to 50 in)

 Reaction: moderately acid to neutral in the upper part of the solum and neutral

 to moderately alkaline in the lower part

 Rock fragment content: 1 to 10 percent gravel throughout