Farming Practices
There are a lot of buzzwords surrounding farming these days, such as no-till, organic, regenerative, sustainable, beyond organic, and many others. While there is a whole lot that could be said about any of these topics, here is my attempt at a quick overview of how I farm. I'm always happy to answer questions about why I farm the way I do; please reach out if you have more questions.
My goal is to create a diversified farming system that works in balance with nature, not fighting against it. My intention is to never spray herbicides, pesticides, and/or fungicides. I know this will be a long process (perhaps never-ending) and that certain crops will do better than others some years, but I believe that even organic pesticides can have negative impacts on the environment, and in the long run will still increase pest pressure. Plants should be able to withstand some pest pressure if they are healthy plants. In addition, a diverse system that encourages snakes, frogs, toads, birds, and beneficial insects should reduce the overall pressure as well. I acknowledge that this is not something I have totally figured out yet, but it is something I strive for and will continue to figure out as I go.
In an effort to keep the soil healthy, and active, I have not mechanically tilled my gardens. Not tilling has many benefits, for one thing, it means one less piece of equipment to maintain and store. No-till can also reduce weed pressure over time by not constantly bringing new weed seeds to the surface. Leaving the soil less disturbed has many benefits to the soil biology and the plants that grow there. There is a huge complex network of life in the soil and every time you till you disturb and disrupt that network. More research is constantly being done to investigate life in our soil. While we don't know everything about what is happening underground, it does appear that having a healthy thriving system underground creates healthier plants. As our weather becomes more unpredictable and seemingly dryer not tilling is also a way to help conserve soil moisture. Keeping the soil structure intact allows water to be absorbed more easily. It is impossible not to disturb the soil at all and in some situations, a disturbance may be needed. Limiting tillage and being very conscious of why and how I till will always be important to me.
I am certified organic, a decision I have thought a lot about over the past few years. A part of me agrees with farms that have decided not to certify because the organic certification has been watered down so much by the lobbying pressure of big agriculture. There are plenty of practices that can now be labeled "organic" even though I, and many others, don't agree that they should have anything to do with organic farming. Animals raised in confined feed lots can now be certified organic, hydroponic plants can also now be considered organic. Though the national organic certification now seems to mean very little I believe in the original intention of the organic label, and have found a new add-on certification through the Real Organic Project. Their aim is to give producers a label that covers what was originally intended by the organic certification process. This means animals are actually raised on pasture and food grown in soil that is biologically active. As of 2022 I am also certified through the Real Organic Project. More information can be found at https://www.realorganicproject.org.
My farming system relies on compost made on the farm, mulches from leaves and grass clippings collected on the property, and cover crops as well as chickens and ducks to help add nutrients to the soil. I have used silage tarps, cardboard, and mulches to open up new ground. I also use silage tarps to help kill cover crops and weeds if an area gets a little out of control. We have an amazing number of various birds on our property and continue to look for ways to encourage them to nest and forage here.
My goal is to create a diversified farming system that works in balance with nature, not fighting against it. My intention is to never spray herbicides, pesticides, and/or fungicides. I know this will be a long process (perhaps never-ending) and that certain crops will do better than others some years, but I believe that even organic pesticides can have negative impacts on the environment, and in the long run will still increase pest pressure. Plants should be able to withstand some pest pressure if they are healthy plants. In addition, a diverse system that encourages snakes, frogs, toads, birds, and beneficial insects should reduce the overall pressure as well. I acknowledge that this is not something I have totally figured out yet, but it is something I strive for and will continue to figure out as I go.
In an effort to keep the soil healthy, and active, I have not mechanically tilled my gardens. Not tilling has many benefits, for one thing, it means one less piece of equipment to maintain and store. No-till can also reduce weed pressure over time by not constantly bringing new weed seeds to the surface. Leaving the soil less disturbed has many benefits to the soil biology and the plants that grow there. There is a huge complex network of life in the soil and every time you till you disturb and disrupt that network. More research is constantly being done to investigate life in our soil. While we don't know everything about what is happening underground, it does appear that having a healthy thriving system underground creates healthier plants. As our weather becomes more unpredictable and seemingly dryer not tilling is also a way to help conserve soil moisture. Keeping the soil structure intact allows water to be absorbed more easily. It is impossible not to disturb the soil at all and in some situations, a disturbance may be needed. Limiting tillage and being very conscious of why and how I till will always be important to me.
I am certified organic, a decision I have thought a lot about over the past few years. A part of me agrees with farms that have decided not to certify because the organic certification has been watered down so much by the lobbying pressure of big agriculture. There are plenty of practices that can now be labeled "organic" even though I, and many others, don't agree that they should have anything to do with organic farming. Animals raised in confined feed lots can now be certified organic, hydroponic plants can also now be considered organic. Though the national organic certification now seems to mean very little I believe in the original intention of the organic label, and have found a new add-on certification through the Real Organic Project. Their aim is to give producers a label that covers what was originally intended by the organic certification process. This means animals are actually raised on pasture and food grown in soil that is biologically active. As of 2022 I am also certified through the Real Organic Project. More information can be found at https://www.realorganicproject.org.
My farming system relies on compost made on the farm, mulches from leaves and grass clippings collected on the property, and cover crops as well as chickens and ducks to help add nutrients to the soil. I have used silage tarps, cardboard, and mulches to open up new ground. I also use silage tarps to help kill cover crops and weeds if an area gets a little out of control. We have an amazing number of various birds on our property and continue to look for ways to encourage them to nest and forage here.