We grow clean, organic, nutrient dense food in an environmentally friendly way.
A “no-till” approach to healthier soil
Plowing and rototilling harms the life in the soil and depletes soil of vital nutrients by volatilizing those nutrients into the atmosphere, creating greenhouse gases. Repeated plowing with a heavy tractor over time compacts the sub soil, which limits the natural movement of water and oxygen in the soil. During times of excessive rainfall, water may lie in puddles on the surface then evaporate before it can seep down into the subsoil. Similarly, during periods of low rainfall, such conditions cause the top soil to dry out quickly because of the soil’s inability to draw up moisture from the subsoil, resulting in stressed or dead crops.
Our farm is an organic “no-till” operation. By limiting any disturbance to the soil, microbial soil activity, vitally important for soil health, will flourish.
Environmentally-friendly practices
Drip irrigation
The use of drip irrigation provides water evenly and efficiently directly to plant roots. Drip irrigation uses 30% to 50% less water than spray heads or rotors irrigation systems, conserving water.
Season extenders
Practices such as row covers and the use of greenhouse-starter plants will provide locally grown produce both sooner and later in the season.
Weed and pest management
We use methods that do not disturb the soil to manage weeds, such as smothering with compost and ground covers. Insects are be controlled through non-toxic means such as with netting and help from local wildlife.
Sharing the environment with nature
Our aim is to take a wildlife-friendly approach to support animals that provide “services” to enhance, and even increase, food production. Familiar services provided by wildlife include pollination and predation of crop pests.
Animals such as bats, owls, bees, lady bugs, and many native bird species, including warblers, woodpeckers, cardinals, orioles, bluebirds, and sparrows, are attracted to the farm by its shelter and a regular water supply from our pond. And we’d like to think that the local coyote population will help keep the rodents in check!
