Water Conservation

• April
• 3

A big part of going green with your garden or farm is learning how to conserve water. Here is a great article on setting up a small scale water system to use rain water for your garden.

Last week (finally) we set up a few water barrels. We put one midway between the cistern and the garden. We put another at the foot of the first raised bed and the final one between the first and second sets of raised beds. The idea is that once the hoses leading between them are full, the water will naturally siphon from one to the next and we will have free-flowing water from the final barrel. link

What are you doing to conserve water in your garden?

Chosing the Right Fertilizer for Your Organic Farm or Garden

• March
• 26

New organic farmers and gardeners often struggle to find a good fertilizer. Sometimes crop rotation and good land management just aren’t enough to get the right nutrients into the soil for your crops.

Here’s 3 links to an excellent resources for organic alternatives to chemical fertilizers.

1. Green Revolution
2. Organic Fertilizer Guide
3. Composting Basics

Organic Planting

• March
• 23

Whether a seasoned gardener or large scale farmer, you know success is all about the condition of the soil you are planting in.

The soil is a resource that is biologically active and dynamic, providing vegetable plants with nutrients, water and oxygen. Organic matter (decayed plant material) is an essential ingredient in fertile soils. Organic matter improves soil tilth while preventing soil compaction and crusting. Soils low in organic matter often crust or seal over after a heavy rain, which prevents water and oxygen infiltration to the root system of growing vegetables. Organic matter slows erosion of soil and provides a favorable environment for earthworms and beneficial microorganisms. Carbon dioxide from decaying organic matter brings minerals of the soil into solution, making them available to growing plants. A target level for organic matter in healthy soil is 3 to 5 percent. link

as well as some excellent resources for determining which manure and seeding rate is the best for your situation from the University of Missouri Extension.

Beyond Organic

• March
• 23

When it comes to sustainable farming techniques, much is being written and done. But what does that mean for the local, small business farmer?

Although sustainable agriculture has roots in organic farming, many smaller farms are developing creative solutions to push their farms to what they call “beyond organic.” In the name of sustainable agriculture, Michael Ablemen, founder of Fairview Gardens, a 12-acre organic farm in Goleta, Calif., promotes urban farming as a way to localize food systems and empower cities to grow and supply their own food. Joel Salatin, owner of Polyface Farm in Swoope, Va., experiments with ways to increase the efficiency and sustainability of his farm. For example, Salatin allows the farm’s pigs to dig through hayshed beds that are designated for compost, thus eliminating the need for machines to aerate the compost.

In support of sustainable agriculture, many corporate buyers are also changing the way they do business – by working with suppliers to promote the procurement of organically, locally, or otherwise sustainably grown products. link

What are some things you can do on your farm to maximize sustainability?

From Subsidies to Stewardship

• March
• 22

From National Public Radio: 

Government payments account for about 15 percent of all farm income in Europe. Starting this year, most of those payments won’t be based on how much food farmers produce, but on how they manage the environment — a fundamental change in European agricultural policy. link

What do you think? Would a similar system have an effect on farming in North America?