Growing Organically and Regeneratively: Our Commitment to Soil Health

Growing food is more than just planting seeds and harvesting crops. It is about nurturing the earth that sustains us. We have been a Certified Organic farm since 2015, our farming practices are deeply rooted in organic and regenerative principles. We focus on building healthy soil, avoiding synthetic chemicals, and fostering a thriving ecosystem on our farm. This blog post will take you through our growing practices, explaining how we care for the soil and why it matters.

Embracing Soil Health as the Foundation

Healthy soil is the cornerstone of productive and sustainable farming. Instead of relying on synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, we prioritize natural methods that enhance soil vitality. Our approach includes:

• Cover cropping: Planting specific crops like clover, rye, or vetch during off-seasons to protect and enrich the soil.

• Farm-produced compost: Using decomposed organic matter from plant residues and animal manures to add nutrients and improve soil structure.

• Animal manures: Incorporating manure from our farm animals to boost microbial activity and nutrient content.

  
  

These practices help maintain soil organic matter, improve water retention, and support beneficial organisms such as earthworms and microbes. Over time, this leads to more resilient crops and a healthier environment.

Cover crops protecting and enriching soil

The Role of Cover Cropping in Regenerative Farming

Cover cropping is a vital part of our soil-building strategy. By planting cover crops between main crop cycles, we achieve several benefits:

• Preventing erosion: Cover crops shield the soil from wind and water erosion.

• Fixing nitrogen: Leguminous cover crops like clover add nitrogen to the soil naturally.

• Weed suppression: Dense cover crops reduce weed growth by limiting sunlight.

• Enhancing soil structure: Roots create channels that improve aeration and water infiltration.

• Scavenge phosphorous: Buckwheat, oats, and rye all work to scavenge and retain the much-needed phosphorous for our garlic, potatoes, and other root crops.

  
  

We select cover crops based on the season and soil needs. For example, in cooler months, ryegrass thrives and protects the soil, while in warmer months, buckwheat grows quickly to smother weeds and attract pollinators.

Farm-Produced Compost and Animal Manures: Nature’s Fertilizers

Instead of synthetic fertilizers, we rely on compost and animal manures to nourish our soil. Our compost is made from the manure and waste hay left after overwintering our cow herd. Animal manures are fully composted before application. This reduces pathogens and stabilizes nutrients, making them safe and effective soil amendments.

We also produce vermicompost (worm compost) in a commercial sized worm bin where garden waste, kitchen waste, manure, and paper/cardboard waste are turned into a nutrient rich compost full of microbial activity. These worm castings are then used to grow our various vegetable and herb transplants.

Using these natural fertilizers supports a balanced soil ecosystem. It encourages beneficial microbes that help plants absorb nutrients and resist diseases. This method also reduces the risk of chemical runoff, protecting nearby waterways.

Avoiding Synthetic Chemicals for Healthier Soil

We do not use any synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. This choice is intentional and aligns with our commitment to organic and regenerative principles. Synthetic chemicals can harm soil life, reduce biodiversity, and contaminate water sources. Farmers, customers, and surrounding communities are also often harmed by the misuse of these products.

Instead, we manage pests and weeds through:

• Crop rotation: Changing crops each season to disrupt pest cycles.

• Mechanical cultivation: Using tools to remove weeds without chemicals.

• Encouraging beneficial insects: Planting flowers and herbs that attract predators of pests.

• Manual removal: Hand-picking pests when necessary.

  
  

These methods require more labor but result in a healthier farm ecosystem.

The Benefits of Regenerative Practices for the Future

Our focus on soil health and regenerative farming is not just about today’s harvest. It is about building a sustainable future. Healthy soil stores more carbon, helping to mitigate climate change. It also supports biodiversity, water quality, and long-term farm productivity.

By growing organically and regeneratively, we contribute to a resilient food system. We invite you to learn more about these practices and consider how they can be applied in your own gardening or farming efforts.

Our farm’s journey is a testament to the power of working with nature, not against it. Through cover cropping, composting, and avoiding synthetic chemicals, we nurture the soil that feeds us all. This approach ensures that our land remains fertile and vibrant for generations to come.