While much research on medicinal plants can be done online, investing in an encyclopedia of medicinal plants can be helpful for any gardener or home-grower. Not only will you be able to identify and forage for common weeds that may have healing properties - but you can build up your own natural medicine cabinet from items you grow yourself and learn to process or preserve them in ways that will maximize their benefit and lengthen their shelf life.
For herbs that will be used medicinally, we do recommend buying organic seeds when possible and not using any chemical fertilizers or insecticides but rather resorting to natural pest control if needed. Thankfully, many strong-scented herbs benefit from being natural insect repellants, so if planted in a garden plot together, or in containers grouped close to one another, they will help to protect each other from infestations.
While there are a ton of options to choose from when it comes to medicinal plants, the following selection we are choosing to highlight are common enough to easily find seeds (some can even be grown from scraps, like ginger), and they grow well in most growing zones:
This orange and yellow flowered medicinal plant will add a pleasant pop of color to your garden - calendula is widely used to treat skin ailments like rashes, wounds, and infections. It is anti-inflammatory, and the petals can make a soothing tea to aid digestion.
Flowers should be harvested soon after they open in the morning, after they have dried of any morning dew. Cut them off at the stem and lay them on a tray to dry in a warm area with good air circulation (or use a dehydrator). Once they are completely dry, they can be stored in a jar for future use.
Most commonly used for tea, chamomile helps to soothe nerves and relax the body. It is safe for all ages and can help treat hay fever, insomnia, and bronchitis. Chamomile tea also makes an excellent compress or rinse for eyes that are experiencing irritation or infection.
Remove the flower heads as they open, before the petals droop downward, and dry them well on a drying tray. While the flowers are what is most commonly used, the leaves also contain the same compounds and can be harvested and used in the same way as the flowers or added directly to salads or as a garnish with a light flavour.
A most versatile herb that grows abundantly in the garden - be sure to keep it contained as mint spreads and will take over your garden beds! Grow it in large pots and trim it often at the beginning of the season so it will grow bushier and healthier as the summer wears on.
Peppermint is excellent to soothe headaches, muscle aches and to improve digestion and mental function. The leaves can be used fresh or dried for a potent tea with many healing benefits. Fresh leaves can also be chopped up and added to witch hazel for a refreshing and invigorating facial astringent. Peppermint makes a great insect repellant as well.
Still commonly used as a cold and flu remedy, echinacea is surprisingly easy to grow. It can help to boost your immune system, lower blood sugar levels, and is high in antioxidants which help to support overall health. The entire plant is edible and beneficial, from the flower heads to the leaves and even the roots.
The easiest way to use this plant is by harvesting the leaves and flowers as they bloom. Cut them just above the lowest leaf and hang the flower with its stem to dry before storing it. If making a tea, steep in just barely boiled hot water for no more than 3 minutes, otherwise the tea may have a bitter taste.
While it can be challenging to grow, once well-established, perennial lavender will grow more plentiful every year. The flowers and leaves have many benefits, from being an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and uplifting for your mood. It can also be a topical treatment for bug bites, eczema, and other skin issues (pair it with calendula petals for an even more potent skin remedy).
Harvest the flowers before they fully open, while they look like a collection of little purple buds ont heir stem. They can be used fresh or dried for later use. Lavender’s powerful scent makes it a great option for aromatherapy and it has a calming effect on mood when inhaled or also consumed as a tea or tincture. Steep the flowers and leaves in hot water and once cooled, strain and add a bit of witch hazel to make a lovely room or pillow spray that will uplift and calm your senses.
An excellent remedy for respiratory issues, thyme grows very well in most soil types and can easily be grown in containers or directly in the garden. Trim it back often at the start of the season to end up with a bushy, abundant plant that can be used throughout the summer and then harvested completely in the fall and dried for use throughout winter.
While thyme is often used as a flavouring for many recipes, its medicinal uses are often overlooked. It can be made into a potent tea to help detoxify and cleanse the lungs. For enhanced lung support, steep thyme in hot water and inhale the steam. The anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties can help support the body during a detox or when suffering with respitory issues caused by a virus or exposure to poor air quality.
A popular and widely used herb in most mediterranean cuisine, rosemary has some surprising health benefits that make it perfect for the medicinal garden. While like many other herbs, it is high in anti-oxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, rosemary is also unique in that it has significant positive impact on mood and memory.
Rosemary has been known to lift mood, improve concentration and focus, and help to protect the brain from damage caused by ageing. It can be consumed as a tea, like most potent herbs - but is also effective as a potent tincture that can be taken as a daily supplement.
This herb is in the same family as mint and also goes by the name Melissa. It is known for its calming and sedative effects on the body, and can also help to increase appetite and benefit the digestive system by relieving certain gastrointestinal issues.
Steeped as a tea, it makes a great option to consume before bed as a sleep aid. While this herb is perennial, it may have a harder time coming back in colder growing zones that experience harsh winters.
Another surprisingly easy plant to grow, ginger is commonly used to treat nausea and vomiting from indigestion, gastrointestinal disturbances or morning sickness. It is safe to use in pregnancy and can also reduce aches and pains. It has anti-inflammatory properties and makes a great tonic for those who deal with chronic inflammation.
Due to its high levels of magnesium and zinc, ginger is also beneficial to blood flow and can reduce blood pressure and improve circulation. Ginger can be grown a store-bought bulb of ginger (organic recommended) that has several growing points or nodes and by following the steps in this informative video.
The medicinal powerhouse - garlic is a powerful anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, anti-septic, and immune-boosting plant. While it needs a bit more room than just an herb garden, it is well worth dedicating an entire garden plot to growing a crop of garlic every year.
Not only can it be used to flavour a variety of meals but can be infused into a potent oil to soothe sore throats and other viral infections. It has a positive effect on blood health and heart health by regenerating cells, lowering cholesterol and improving circulation.
When building your natural care pharmacy, choose options that address your specific needs and preferences. If you tend to consume a specific type of herbal tea, try your hand at growing it yourself! Remember that many pharmaceuticals are actually derived from plants to begin with. As stated by the World Health Organization about “855 traditional medicines include crude plant extracts” and most people that reside in developing countries with limited access to pharmaceuticals actually rely on herbal remedies for their daily needs (1).
Many herbal supplements are costly and are not properly regulated. As a result, they may not always contain the highest quality ingredients or they may be combined with other fillers or less beneficial ingredients. Being able to control the whole growing and preserving process gives you a strong advantage and can greatly contribute to improved health.
Find a sunny spot for your medicinal garden, and invest in quality soil (or use a soil amendment to improve the soil you already have). The better you care for your medicinal plants, the more they will reward you with vitality and overall health benefits. While tea infusions are the easiest and quickest way to reap the benefits of most herbs, it is also worth gaining some knowledge on how to make tinctures, decoctions, and preserve your herbs properly so that you can make the most out of your efforts to grow them.
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]]>The idea of gardening to better feed ourselves is not a new concept - as many did just that during World War II. The hope was that “Victory Gardens” would help the average family to feed themselves while allowing more of our agriculturally-grown produce to be sent to troops in need overseas. The effort was considered a success, with an estimated 40% of all produce in the US being grown in home gardens at the time.
While circumstances today may differ, the rise in urban gardening and backyard farming shows that people are learning from the past and taking their food needs into their own hands during these times of increased uncertainty. But can a few tomato plants and windowbox herbs really save you that much on grocery bills? Probably not.
If you are looking to really beat inflation and make the most of your garden space, here are a few high-value, high-nutrition crops you should aim to grow:
Kale is an excellent contender for the home garden for a few reasons. It grows quickly and can be harvested throughout the entire growing season and well into the colder fall weather. It is high in nutritional value and versatile in the kitchen. It can be preserved by dehydrating and ground into a powder for a nutrition-packed addition to soups and smoothies. Choose a perennial variety, if you are in a growing zone with mild winters, and you will not have to replant it every spring.
Beans grow quickly and produce multiple harvests throughout the season. They are relatively easy to grow and many varieties take very little space (try pole beans along a trellis for vertical growing with a small garden footprint). They also pack a high nutritional punch that makes them a great vegetable to grow at home. If you find yourself with more than you know what to do with, they can be preserved by canning or pickling and used throughout the winter. At the end of the growing season, leave some bean pods on the vine and allow them to fully mature and dry - you can then use the beans inside as seeds to produce more plants next season.
Cabbage may not be the priciest vegetable at the grocery store - but it is easy to grow yourself and a little goes a long way. It also stores very well and can be preserved in ways that will maximize its nutritional value. Use your homegrown cabbage to make fermented sauerkraut or kimchi, high in probiotics, fiber, and vitamins and excellent for your gut health and immune system!
Garlic is a perfect option for a home garden because of its versatility in terms of use. It is used to flavor a wide variety of meals and can be preserved by canning or pickling, or frozen fresh. Before the bulbs are ready to harvest, the plant produces long thin flower stems called scapes that can be harvested and made into pesto or eaten as a flavourful side dish. Once harvested, keep aside a few of the biggest cloves to replant the following year. Be sure to cure it properly so it can be used year-round.
If you have more space at your disposal, squash and pumpkin are excellent crops to grow at home. Be sure your garden gets lots of sun before trying your hand at growing them - as they need at least 6 hours of full sun per day for a high yield. These vegetables are highly nutritious and high in healthy carbohydrates, which make them a great staple in the kitchen. If stored properly after harvest, they will keep all through the winter and can provide essential vitamins and minerals to keep your body healthy during the colder part of the year.
Easy and quick to grow, spinach is a nutrient powerhouse that typically costs a pretty penny at the grocery store. You can grow it in the ground or in containers, which is a good option for any sized garden. You can sow seeds directly outdoors and enjoy a harvest a mere 4 to 6 weeks later - which means it is also an excellent option for succession planting to have a continuous crop all season long. It also grows well in cooler weather and can be harvested well into the late summer and early fall.
Lettuce prices have been some of the most unpredictable over the last several months, on top of shortages and recalls that have made this kitchen staple more difficult to come by. While it may not be the most nutrient-dense food, it is high in vitamin A and makes a great base for a wide range of dishes. It is easy to grow and harvest, making it a great contender for the home garden. If you harvest the leaves from the bottom and leave the roots in the ground, you can continue to harvest from the same plant throughout the summer and into early fall.
The crops above are a great starting point if you want to produce high-value, high-nutrition food in a limited space. If you are lucky enough to have a larger plot of land, fruit trees can also be an excellent option that will provide abundant harvests and save you plenty of money in the long run.
Pear Trees, Plum Trees, and Mulberry Trees are among the best options as they produce abundant harvests, and their fruit can be used or preserved in various ways (by dehydrating, freeze drying, or made into jams or compotes, to name a few options). They are also not as prone to disease as other fruit trees.
If you do not have enough space for a tree, consider perennial berry bushes along the perimeter of your property. Blueberries and raspberries are high in antioxidants and many different vitamins. They also tend to be among the priciest of fruits at the grocery store, whether fresh or frozen - so having your own continuous supply at home is definitely worth the effort!
If you are looking to grow your own food for the purpose of saving money at the grocery store, choosing your crop options wisely is a must. If you are working with a small space, invest in solutions to maximize your space and use it as wisely as possible.
You may also want to consider kitchen solutions that allow you to preserve your harvests, like a food dehydrator or canning equipment. While these items may be an investment upfront, the money they can save you in the long run is significant and you can rest assured that your preserved produce will be much healthier than anything you can buy in-store.
Learning how to garden and make the most of your home-grown goods is a valuable skill that requires little more than investing your time. There are a ton of resources available online, and the trend is constantly growing. Follow us on social media for more informative and inspirational content geared to all who love to grow.
]]>The following plants work wonders for improving your soil - in fact, some of them may already be growing on their own in your backyard!
Known for their nitrogen-fixing properties, planting peas, beans, and other legumes in your garden can significantly boost this vital nutrient. Due to their symbiotic relationship with microorganisms in the soil, they can actually improve soil fertility by cycling nutrients in the soil to make them more bioavailable for plant uptake. Leaving the roots in the ground after harvest will provide growers with the maximum benefit.
You will want to use caution with this plant, as it can pack a sting if not handled with gardening gloves. Nettle is known to accumulate nutrients in the soil and bring them closer to the rhizome, where they can be best absorbed. (As a bonus, it has many medicinal properties when consumed, just be sure you cook it first to remove the sting!)
Another nitrogen-fixing plant - red clover, grows easily in most climates and comes back year after year. Add the cuttings to your compost pile to increase nitrogen there, too. As clover grows so densely, it also helps to build soil structure and retain moisture in the soil. And if that wasn’t enough - its flowers attract both pollinators and beneficial bugs that can help control pest populations. Clover make a great alternative to a traditional grass lawn, and is edible with many medicinal properties.
This plant’s deep taproots help to aerate the soil and provide better drainage by changing the soil structure. The crop can be used as a cover crop, fixing nitrogen into the ground and acting as a living mulch for intercropping. Because it grows so densely, it prevents soil erosion and encourages carbon sequestration through photosynthesis.
This hardy tree is known to grow well in poor soils, and helps to improve them as it grows. In addition to its nitrogen-fixing and carbon-sequestering qualities, it provides an excellent habitat to support a variety of wildlife - making it an essential contributor to a healthy garden ecosystem. It is typically found growing near water and can actually help to reinforce riverbanks by keeping the soil together with its extensive root system.
This hardy perennial is a star of permaculture because it will come back on its own year after year. Its root system can stretch down further than 10 feet beneath the soil's surface, bringing essential nutrients up closer to the surface. These strong roots are also effective at breaking through compacted clay soils and providing the necessary aeration for other vegetation to grow. Like most of the plants on this list, it adds nitrogen to the soil through its decomposing leaves that fall onto the ground - but it will also help to add potassium and phosphorous in the same way.
While it is sometimes criticized as being an invasive plant, Milk Thistle does have soil-building qualities. The plant is high in potassium, while its hardy and deeply penetrating roots help break up subsoil and bring iron closer to the surface. It is also a beneficial plant for pollinators and other insects. Milk Thistle encourages the microbial life in the soil to grow and thrive as they feed on its roots, cycling nutrients and improving soil structure.
Sunflowers have an extensive root system that helps to support their grand stature. Because these long and hardy roots reach far down into the soil, they effectively create channels for water, air, and nutrients needed to build up soil health. Sunflowers are an excellent plant for pollinators and a great source of food for birds and small animals. While they are annual flowers, they almost always self-sow their seeds due to the abundant amount they produce and will typically come back year after year, sometimes being transported by birds and popping up in surprise locations.
Healthy Soil plays an absolutely vital role in our own health as humans. As questionable agricultural practices and climate shifts continue to degrade the health of our soil, we must do what we can to regenerate and restore it. With increased awareness and knowledge, we are all capable of taking steps in the right direction.
Share this post and browse our other blog posts to learn what you can do to help preserve the health of this vital contributing source of life on our beautiful planet.
]]>Different plants also affect the soil in different ways and can leave a lasting effect on your garden plots once they have been pulled for harvest. Learning about the different plant families and understanding the basics of growing each can help guide your gardening plan - especially regarding techniques like crop rotation, companion planting, and succession planting.
In this post, we will explore the nine main botanical families, which crops fall under each, and a general overview of the soil and care required for each family to thrive.
Includes: Beets, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Quinoa, Lamb’s Quarters, pigweed (a common weed), and various garden ornamentals.
Members of the Amanathaceae family are found worldwide and grow well in saline soil. They are physically characterized by succulent or fuzzy leaves that grow alternating along the stems. Many plants in this family have a red pigmentation to their stem and foliage called betalain - this pigment is sometimes used in supplements for its anti-inflammatory properties and is also used as a natural food coloring additive.
Typically, plants in the Amaranthaceae family will grow well in full, direct sun and are fairly resilient to both warm and cooler temperatures, producing harvests both during the summer and into the fall.
Includes: Carrot, Celery, Parsnip, Fennel, and a wide variety of herbs such as Parsley, Coriander, Cumin, Dill, Anise, and more.
This family of plants grows well in northern regions and prefers fertile soil rich in organic matter, with enough structure to retain moisture and nutrients. These plants are typically quite aromatic and are characterized by feathery, alternating leaves. While some members of the Apiaceae family contain poisonous compounds, others are used to produce potent essential oils. The strong aromas produced by the herbs in this family make them excellent companion plant options.
Because they grow well in cooler climates, many Apiaceae plants are great options for early spring planting and can produce harvests well into the fall provided they are well-watered throughout the growing season.
Includes: Lettuce, Endive, Artichoke, edible flowers such as Marigolds, Dahlias, Zinnias, and Chrysanthemums, as well as more common weeds like Dandelion, Ragweed, and Thistle.
As one of the largest known plant families, Asteraceaes account for nearly 25,000 different plant species and include a wide variety of flowering plants and common weeds, many of which are edible, at least in part. Many of the plants in this family also have medicinal qualities like being high in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory or anti-microbial, including those commonly known as weeds.
This plant family typically thrives in slightly acidic soil and grows best in full sun or light shade (but with so many different species, there are bound to be some exceptions). They are typically characterized by something called inflorescence, which means that their blooms are actually composed of clusters of flowers on a main stem.
Includes: Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Turnip, Rutabaga, Radish, Arugula, Watercress, and Horseradish.
This plant family is one of the most commonly grown as important agricultural crops and has been highly cultivated and genetically altered by humans. Also referred to as the mustard family of plants, many have a distinct peppery flavor. Grown worldwide, plants in this family have significant economic importance in agriculture and are high-value crops for farmers.
Brassicaceae crops typically grow well in part-shade and need well-draining soil from planting all the way to harvest in order to thrive and produce high yields. Many have a longer than usual seed-to-harvest time and should be planted early in the growing season to ensure they reach maturity, especially in zones with a shorter span of frost-free days.
Includes: Cucumbers, Squash, Pumpkin, Zucchini, Melons, and Loofah.
Consisting mostly of annual vining plants, plants in the Cucurbitaceae family are known for being sensitive to frost and should only be planted in the ground once sufficiently warmed. This crop family was first domesticated in Asia over 11,000 and has since become a very widely grown family of crops across the world. The fruits of this crop family are characterized by a colorful and pulpy interior containing seeds that can be saved for future planting.
This plant family should be grown in full sun, for most varieties and needs rich, well-drained soil rich in nitrogen, with a pH level around 7. Adding organic matter to the soil and providing a good layer of mulch around the plants will help them to thrive.
Includes: Lentils, Beans, Peas, Soybeans, Chickpeas, Peanuts, and Clover.
Commonly known as Legumes, this plant family is usually characterized by pods that contain the edible portion of the plant. While many varieties grow best in more temperate regions, some can withstand cooler temperatures (for example, Canadian farmers produce the most lentils worldwide, over double the amount produced by India).
Characterized mostly by either a straight or climbing stem, these plants will generally put out a long taproot into the soil that will then create root nodules for favorable nutrient uptake. They are also known to fix nitrogen in the soil, with many species being used in crop rotation for this purpose or as cover crops in off-season growing. Because they help to condition the soil, they are generally easy to grow in most soil types and even in areas where drought is common.
Includes: Aloe, Asparagus, Chives, Garlic, Leeks, Onions, and Shallots.
While this plant family is known best for its beautiful blooming ornamental flowers, it also includes a few vegetables and herb species native to the more temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. This plant family is mainly characterized by its underground bulbs which act as nutrient storage for the whole plant and put out a fibrous root system.
Vegetable species in this plant family can grow in sun or partial shade and thrive in rich, slightly acidic soil that is moist but well-drained. While some bulbs should be overwintered indoors, others can be planted in the fall and will start growing as soon as snow melts in spring.
Includes: Oats, Rice, Corn, Barley, Bamboo, Millet, Barley, Sugarcane, Wheat, and a wide variety of grasses.
As the most abundant plant family on Earth, the Poaceae are the most important food source for the world’s human and animal populations. This plant family grows worldwide on all continents and accounts for nearly 25% of all vegetation on the planet. In addition to being a vital food source, this plant family is a key player in water filtration, reducing soil erosion, increasing atmospheric carbon sequestration, and promoting oxygen production.
These plants can tolerate a range of soil pH levels and grow well in various soil types, putting out a significant and fibrous root system capable of taking up the required nutrients. Keeping the soil moist but well-drained will encourage stronger plant growth.
Includes: Peppers, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Eggplant, Ground Cherries, Petunias, and Tobacco.
Also known as the Nightshade family, Solanaceae plants are mostly characterized as flowering species and are most abundant in tropical regions (though a few key species in this family are grown in abundance worldwide). While the fruit produced by many plants in this family is edible, Solanaceae plants are typically characterized as containing narcotic alkaloids that can be extremely toxic in large doses.
This plant family is best grown in warm, sunny climates when all risk of frost has passed, and the soil has warmed to at least 60°F. A highly fertile, sandy loam soil rich in organic matter, with a pH between 5.5 to 7, will allow this plant family to thrive.
While there are many different vegetation categories on our planet, these nine botanical families are the main ones typically grown as edible and widely consumed crops. It helps to know which family your garden vegetables fall under to provide them with the ideal growing conditions and ensure that they yield a plentiful harvest.
When planning your garden plots, it is advisable to plant similar families together or combine them strategically to help condition the soil for optimal nutrient content. Crop rotation is also typically done with botanical families in mind, and can help to reduce plant disease and unwanted pests when done correctly.
]]>As farmers, gardeners, and homesteaders, we understand the importance of protecting our natural resources and using only what we need. When it comes to peat harvesting, there are protective policies in place that allow this practice to be done sustainably - and there are ways to use peat in growing practices that maximize the benefits of this important resource while ensuring that it remains abundant.
Peat Moss is a natural substance that accumulates in layers in vast wetlands worldwide and is created from the breaking down of organic matter from trees, leaves, roots, and other plant materials. Due to the lack of oxygen in these water-saturated environments, this material breaks down slowly over time. The Sphagnum moss that grows on the surface of peatlands spreads slowly and is extremely adaptable and resilient, pushing other vegetation out of the way and sequestering a significant amount of carbon into the peat below.
Peatlands are abundant in the Northern Hemisphere - with Asia and Canada having the highest percentage. Canada alone has approximately 170 million hectares of peatlands, about 14% of the country’s total surface area (1).
Because peatlands develop extremely slowly and effectively sequester carbon, harvesting peat has become a hot topic. Especially in the last few decades, where climate shifts have raised concerns over the amount of carbon released into our atmosphere, these carbon sinks are increasingly important to protect.
When harvesting of peatlands is done without proper protection in place for peat bog renewal, this can be problematic. Furthermore, some countries harvest peat primarily for fuel - which has an even bigger negative impact on the environment as the emissions released from burning peat harm our atmosphere. While peat harvesting for fuel has been widely criticized for its negative environmental impact, these practices are being increasingly regulated, with some countries phasing them out completely as other sustainable fuel sources become more widely available and affordable.
Of the over 400 million hectares of peatlands on earth, only 14% have been disturbed for harvesting, and only 1% of that accounts for horticultural use (2). So, when looking at the total environmental impact of peatland harvesting, horticultural use is a very small percentage of that equation. In fact, peatland harvesting done for horticulture is approached in a different and much more sustainable way to protect this important resource.
Canada, in particular, has very strict guidelines in place to ensure that peatlands are harvested sustainably and do not deplete them. The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA) ensures that peatlands considered for harvesting are properly assessed before any ground is broken. Once assessed, harvesting can take several weeks as it depends on the weather patterns - if rain is in the forecast, harvesting will be delayed as these conditions will cause the peat moss harvester to compact the soil, further damaging the delicate ecosystem of the bogs.
Every year, over 70 million tons of peat are naturally created in Canadian bogs - and of that, only 1.3 million tons are harvested (3). Because Canada accounts for 95% of the peat moss used in US horticulture and agriculture, this ratio is rather sustainable. It does not have a significant impact on the depletion of this natural resource.
When considering peat moss strictly as a growing medium, effective alternatives exist, but the question remains about whether or not these options are more sustainable. From black garden soil to coconut coir to wood residues - other growing mediums can offer certain benefits to your growing project but are not necessarily better than peat-based mediums. In such cases where growers prefer to use mediums that are not peat-based, for whatever reason, soil amendments can offer an effective way to reap the benefits of peat more sustainably.
Peat-based humic acid and fulvic acid can be added to other growing mediums to increase their structure and water-holding capacity. Humic Land™ is produced using sustainably-sourced peat and processed in an environmentally-conscious way using a grinding and cavitation process without any chemical additives or high heat. When used in a low and steady microdose, this soil amendment will effectively add structure to the existing growing medium and improve its capacity to cycle nutrients due to the active microbiology present in the product.
The concentration rate of Humic Land™ allows growers to cover a vast area with only a small amount through their irrigation system - making this an effective way to maximize the benefits of the peat-based humic and fulvic acids. Humic Acid is known to benefit crop yields, contribute to lower field temperatures, and increase plant resistance to stress - but not all humic acids are sustainable and some sources of this soil amendment, like leonardite, are particularly problematic.
Although the importance of peatland protection should not be understated, using peat moss in horticulture is not a significant contributing factor to their depletion. The peat moss that is harvested specifically for growing crops is done so in a way that is not invasive and is, in fact, regenerative. While peat is also harvested for fuel, this practice is thankfully in decline across the globe due to the negative impact it has proven to have on our environment and climate.
Ensuring that peat continues to be sourced in a sustainable way, and supporting companies who align with this mission will allow us to continue using this highly effective growing medium and soil amendment to maximize our food and crop production across America and the world.
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]]>First, we must acknowledge that weeds are, in fact, just plants growing where they are not meant to be growing. Nature has a way of reacting and adapting to its surroundings and environment. When things are off balance or when the environment is disturbed, nature will attempt to resolve the issue itself by focusing its energy on a return to stability.
While soil testing would be the most fool-proof and accurate way to know the exact composition of your soil, the information you can garner just by paying attention to the weeds will give you a very good preliminary assessment. Soil drainage issues, pH levels, nutrient levels, fertility and compaction are all factors that can be determined by monitoring the weeds.
Weeds can also be a good indicator of the soil being warm enough for planting - when you begin to see weeds sprouting up in your garden beds, it is time to sow your early crops!
Alkaline Soil means that the soil has a high pH level. While some crops do well in alkaline soil (cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli to name a few), this higher pH level can actually make nutrients in the soil less bioavailable to plants and prevent absorption. Higher pH levels can also stunt foliage growth or cause leaves to appear wilted or spotted. Some weeds indicating your soil is alkaline would be Salad Burnet, Wild Carrot (also called Queen Anne’s Lace) and Chicory.
Neutral pH levels are considered good for the soil, and many crops will grow well in neutral pH - but certain weeds will also thrive. Daisy, chickweed, and purple deadnettle are among the weeds that do especially well in neutral soil and could be a good indicator that your pH levels are actually in balance. A soil with balanced pH will allow most crops to go well, with a few exceptions like blueberries, raspberries and rhubarb.
Acidic Soil can be characterized by a low pH level. When the soil leans more toward being acidic, you may find an abundance of buttercup, horsetail, mullein, or sheep sorrel. A common way to neutralize acidic soil would be to add lime and compost high in organic matter. Acidic soil can diminish the uptake of nutrients and prevent plants from accessing the water in the soil effectively. It can also lead to nitrogen leaching and make soil more prone to erosion.
Dry Soil may seem like it cannot grow much vegetation, but certain weeds will still grow in an attempt to attract more moisture. Mustard, pigweed, thistle, and yarrow tend to break through dry soil and can be difficult to control as long root systems are designed to grow far and deep in their search for water. Using a soil amendment that contains humic acid and fulvic acid will help to retain moisture in the soil and add structure to prevent it from drying out.
Compacted soil may have difficulty growing healthy crops, but will encourage the growth of dandelions, clover, quackgrass, and knotweed. Soil can become compacted when it is subject to foot traffic, when it is highly tilled, or when it has been left bare to the rain and then worked while wet. Avoid overworking soil if you notice it is getting compacted, try adding in aeration by poking in some holes with a garden fork and add in some organic matter or a bit of sand.
Low Fertility soil is typically deficient in essential nutrients and organic matter. It will not have the binding qualities of fertile soil and will crumble and erode easily. Spotting weeds such as crabgrass, mugwort, ragweed and vetch can indicate that your soil lacks the nutrients that would make it fertile. These weeds tend to draw nutrients toward their root systems to fix them in the soil to increase fertility.
Fertile Soil can also grow its fair share of weeds, but you may want to think twice about pulling them up and simply discarding them. If you notice stinging nettle, purslane, or lamb’s quarters in your garden beds - consider yourself lucky! Not only is your soil healthy and fertile, but these “weeds” are actually edible, highly nutritious, and medicinal. They have also been doing their part to bring nutrients up closer to the rhizome where they can be absorbed - so you can be confident that whatever crops you plant in this soil will be well-fed.
Many plants we consider common weeds have been used for centuries in herbal medicine due to their healing properties. Once you know which weeds are growing in your garden and what they are telling you about your soil, you can decide if you want to remove them completely or allow some to keep growing and make use of them.
Dandelions are one of the most nutritious plants you can find and are used medicinally worldwide for various ailments. Every part of the plant is edible from the root to the flower. Harvest the leaves for a nutrient-dense salad rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. The roots can be cleaned and dried to make a tea or coffee substitute. The flowers can be infused into raw honey to help treat asthma or respiratory infections.
Stinging Nettle can be harvested (while wearing gloves!) and made into an anti-inflammatory tea or sauteed as a nutritious and delicious side dish. It is high in calcium, magnesium, and dietary fiber.
Yarrow can be applied to the skin to stop wounds from bleeding and help accelerate healing. It can also be ingested for heartburn or indigestion relief and works well as a diuretic.
Mugwort can be used as a laxative, liver tonic, and sedative. It has also been said to enhance dreams when taken as tea before bed.
Lamb’s quarters are edible and highly nutritious as they are high in protein, fiber and contain vitamins A and C. They also have a high calcium content, can replenish the body’s iron, and are a source of omega-3 and 6. For relief from insect bites or inflammation, they can be chewed into a paste and applied to the affected area.
It is not uncommon to see rapid weed growth in garden beds where the soil has been disturbed - this is because the weeds are attempting to repair the damage caused by tilling and trying to restore balance to the barren area. Take note of which weeds pop up at the start of the growing season, and harvest those you can use. Once you have a good assessment of your soil and which weeds grow in abundance in your garden, decide how you want to proceed with weeding.
One way to reduce the number of weeds is to cover your garden beds with cardboard or a plastic tarp a few weeks before you plant, cutting off the sun exposure and killing off a good portion of the weeds. Once you remove the covering, apply a layer of quality compost and then plant your seedlings. Mulch around seedlings with a natural mulch like straw, grass clippings or dried leaves. The nutrients in the compost and the organic matter will help to restore soil and balance pH levels. You may still need to occasionally pull weeds, but the task will be made much easier.
Staying on top of weeding from the start of the season, doing a little bit every few days, will prevent the weeds from getting out of hand and competing with your garden crops. If you prefer a weed-free garden, try your best to pull out the root of the weeds to prevent them from re-growing. If you can pull the weeds before they go to seed, leave them to dry up on the soil's surface, acting as a mulch that will return nutrients to the soil as they decompose. If you notice that they have started producing seeds, it is best to discard them so to avoid an abundance of germinating seeds that are sure to quickly take over your garden.
While keeping a tidy, weed-free garden can be a tempting goal, leaving some weeds in the ground can benefit your soil as they help uptake and cycle nutrients. Using some of your garden weeds as food or medicine is a great way to make the most of what nature can offer. While you want to provide the best possible environment for your crops to thrive, you may also not have the patience to pull weeds up every few days, and we all know that using weed-killing chemical treatments can do more harm than good. Finding a balance that works best for you and fits well into your lifestyle is the key to any successful gardening venture.
]]>Conventional agriculture has functioned for centuries within the confines of a system that required it to keep growing steadily - but as the world population boomed in the 1950s and beyond, this once steady system had to keep up, forced to adopt practices that put production parallel to profits. The goal was to grow the highest possible yield of consumable crops to keep up with demand - and just like anything that requires unrealistic results, farmers had to resort to extreme measures.
The introduction of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides changed the face of agriculture - farmers were now able to increase their yields beyond their previous capabilities - pushing their crops to perform, wiping out any potential pests and diseases with what seemed like cure-all products. But as we know, every action has a consequence - sometimes one that is not seen for years. As the population kept growing, so did health concerns - the world saw a massive rise in cancers and other illnesses - animal and insect populations began to decline, slowly at first and then much quicker. While food production remained high, the food itself was beginning to decline in nutritional value - the more farmers used these chemical inputs, the more they had to rely on them to produce anything, as the soil was becoming depleted and devoid of nutrients and diverse microbiology.
The problem is not agriculture or the farmers themselves - but a system that prioritizes profit while applying pressure to increase production. While it is in a farmer’s best interest to care for the land they tend to, it can be challenging to break away from the cycles of convention despite the apparent need. There needs to be an increased focus on providing farmers with information about how sustainability can achieve and exceed the growing potential of agriculture operations. We must cultivate a deep understanding that sustainably managed agricultural operations restore and preserve critical habitats. They also contribute to improved soil health, positively impacting and protecting watersheds and water quality.
So does switching to more sustainable practices mean lessening your environmental impact at the expense of production and profits? It can be quite the opposite. Engaging in sustainable farming practices can increase yields in the long run, with the benefit of maintaining good stewardship of natural systems. Farmers have the upper hand in this situation, as they can implement these necessary changes without losing profit - while reducing their fertilizer and chemical input consumption. Over time, this can potentially lessen the demand for these inputs and create an industry-wide shift toward more sustainable solutions.
You can rest assured that the changes do not necessarily need to represent a complete overhaul of all your current farming practices - while regenerative farming is an ideal concept in theory, it can look different for everyone. Focusing on one realistic change at a time, and staying consistent in your new practices, can be the perfect way to ease into a more sustainable approach without sacrificing your bottom line.
An excellent place to start would be doing a soil analysis to assess the contents of the soil itself and understand what other sustainable practices can be implemented to optimize its health. Knowing the nutrient content of the soil and pH levels can lead to more informed decisions on how to better balance these elements for optimal growth. Using natural soil amendments to build up the health of the soil instead of pushing it beyond its limitations with synthetics - will ensure a long-lasting positive impact that continues to improve over time.
In particular, amendments that focus on the natural compounds already found in the soil will help to build soil structure and increase the biodiversity of soil microbes. As the microbes increase, so do the symbiotic relationships between organisms and root systems - leading to increased plant resistance to stress, foliage, and photosynthesis.
Switching to more natural soil conditioners will have an impact beyond just the soil itself. This increase in soil structure will also help protect waterways from pollution caused by runoff and leaching - holding the water in the soil where plant roots can take it up as needed. This will reduce the amount of water a crop needs, improving the efficiency of your irrigation efforts.
Agricultural practices such as monoculture and tillage have been proven to decrease soil health over time - when the soil constantly cycles the same set of nutrients, this can lead to an imbalance. Disturbing the soil with frequent tilling displaces and destroys microbes and organic matter - adding to the imbalance and often encouraging less desirable microbes to multiply - leading to increased pest problems, increased weeds, and crop disease.
Farmers can add intercropping, cover crops, and succession planting to their growing arsenal of sustainable practices with some strategic planning. Maintaining living roots in the soil for as long as possible has many benefits to the soil, as it keeps the microbes thriving and balances soil biodiversity. This minimizes soil compaction, provides necessary nitrogen to plant roots, and can assist in pest control. Keeping the fields covered instead of bare will also allow for carbon sequestration, significantly decrease soil erosion, and add important organic matter to the soil to stimulate more microbial activity.
Consumers have a growing demand to know where their food is coming from and how it is grown. Implementing more intentional farming practices that satisfy the consumers’ concerns while lessening environmental impact can grow your business by establishing more trust in your farm. Consumers will know they are getting quality produce while supporting a business that cares about improving agricultural practices for future generations. Learning as much as possible about regenerative practices will give you the confidence to adopt the ones that work best on your farm.
While the agriculture industry has relied heavily on chemical inputs for the last century, we must understand that before these inputs were used, it was necessary to trust nature and its processes. When an ecosystem is given a chance to work in a balanced way, it will thrive without human interference. In nature, there are predators and prey - and this is a key concept of an Integrated Pest Management system that can benefit your farm tremendously in your pursuit of sustainability.
While in the process of restoring balance to a system, challenges can arise - but if we remain consistent in facing those challenges with sustainability in mind, the restoration of balance can happen more quickly and with better results than anticipated.
If you have relied on pesticides in the past, switching to an IPM system may seem daunting - and may even trigger some visits from unwanted pests at first - but knowing the tools that you have at your disposal can be a vital part of rewriting the script on what sustainability can do for you. There is a good reason that biologicals and beneficial bugs have risen in popularity over the last few years: they bring impressive results and their potential negative impact is non-existent.
Best of all, sustainability efforts are cumulative - meaning that the more efforts you implement, the greater the results over time. As your soil health increases from using high-quality natural soil amendments, plant health and vigor will also increase. Healthier plants are less attractive to destructive pests. So your integrated pest management efforts will help diminish the initial problem and then be reinforced by other efforts, making them unlikely to happen again. You will benefit from reduced overhead costs by eliminating your need for fertilizers or other chemical inputs.
These efforts also work together to help balance the ecosystem on your farm - which promotes biodiversity in the surrounding region. Higher yields of healthier crops result in feeding healthier produce both locally and as exports, positively impacting the agriculture system as a whole and bringing in higher profits all around.
Taking a look at the results that other growers have already achieved can give you the confidence to make the switch to natural soil amendments on your farm. Humic Land™ boasts some impressive results if you want to increase yields, reduce fertilizer use, or establish healthier root systems in your crop for better nutrient uptake.
Our team can also offer recommendations for IPM solutions, soil analysis, and other ways to holistically target any problem areas of your farm. We offer trials that can be done in limited areas of your fields so that you can see the results for yourself before adopting these same practices throughout your whole farm.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information and to get started on your path to successful sustainability.
]]>Aside from having homegrown produce free of chemical inputs and pesticides, urban farming and backyard growing have many other benefits. On an individual level, growing in any capacity allows you to learn a new skill, expanding your horizons and life experience. You can feel a sense of pride and fulfillment in knowing you are consuming healthier food, saving money, and producing less waste. If you approach urban farming with a plan, you can generate an income from your produce, creating the potential for a small side business or a more significant full-time venture. In addition, with strategic planning and proper execution, building a garden or farm in your backyard can increase your property value.
Going a bit deeper, gardening has also been proven to have positive effects on mental and physical wellness. Getting out in the sun and fresh air, soaking up vitamin D, and being exposed to various microbes and bacteria in the garden all contribute to a healthy immune system. Grounding in the Earth can help to balance our mood and hormone levels, and gardening is a beneficial physical activity that can strengthen our muscles and improve flexibility.
“Research shows that working with plants—and putting our hands in the dirt—provides outdoor physical activity, induces relaxation, and reduces stress, anxiety, blood pressure, and muscle tension” (1).
If you are looking for benefits beyond your physical, mental, and financial health - urban farming is also an excellent way to build connections within your community. Growing your food in an urban setting can inspire others to do the same - you may even be able to set up a bartering system with neighbors to further bring the community together. Additionally, you are positively contributing to the environment by helping filter city air and reduce pollution, cooling down the atmosphere, providing habitats for bees and other pollinators, and increasing the biodiversity of your local area (2).
Urban Farming is any type of growing, harvesting, and selling produce or other agricultural products in a city, urban or suburban community. This would include suburban homesteads, backyard farming, community gardens, rooftop gardens, vertical hydroponic or aeroponic growing and more. The definition is broad and can look quite different depending on where the urban grower is located and what their goals and motivations are for their cultivation project. The good news is that because the definition is so broad, there is no “right way” to be an urban farmer; even if you only have a small space to work with, there are ways to succeed in your venture.
The first thing to think about is your reason for starting an urban farming project - consider what you wish to accomplish: Will this be a relaxed hobby to produce some food for you and your family or a more serious side business to bring in additional income? Do you already have gardening experience and wish to create a space in the community for others to learn more about growing? Are you trying to become self-sufficient and sustainable, reduce your carbon footprint, and reliance on the commercial food system?
Whatever your motivations are for starting, it is advisable to start small and build up as you go - keeping in mind that cultivation is a learned practice that takes time and patience.
While you may not need a lot of space to grow crops, you should plan to maximize the space you have to use it as efficiently as possible. For the sake of making things simple, we will divide up our backyard farming ideas into 3 categories: City Grower (minimal growing space like a balcony, small rooftop or community allotment), Urban Grower (A dedicated space in the form of a small backyard, small front lawn or shared space with a neighbor), Suburban Grower (Large backyard or front yard, with room for a shed or greenhouse).
If you are working with a very small space, like a balcony or community allotment, start with growing only items that you regularly consume. You want to be able to get the most out of what you grow, and so we recommend focusing on items that are high in nutritional value, offer larger yields and can be used for multiple purposes. You will also need to consider which of these items are best to grow in containers, as that will likely be your only option in this situation. If you do not have much square footage on the ground, consider your vertical limitations: tiered planters and vertical garden walls offer a convenient way to use vertical space to grow more efficiently.
Vertical gardening can be done easily with the GardenSoxx® system by placing the GardenSoxx® one above the other on steps or shelving. They can also be placed directly on concrete or a balcony where you do not have access to the actual ground soil. Because the mesh has barely any weight, and the compost filling is lighter than soil, this system works well if you have weight limitations on your balcony or rooftop. Drip irrigation ensures your plants get watered as needed without excess runoff.
Crops that do well in containers include tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, beans, and cucumbers (with a trellis for them to climb). Another crop that grows surprisingly well in a container, such as a barrel or a bucket is potatoes. As long as your container has good height and adequate drainage, potatoes are relatively easy to grow and can provide you with an abundant harvest of a staple food that has a wide range of culinary uses.
If all you have room for is a few small containers, an herb garden is a great money-saver when using your harvest for flavouring home-cooked dishes and drying for tea. As an added benefit, choose herbs that have medicinal properties to save on pricey medicine and supplements. Peppermint, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and lemon balm are excellent choices for container-growing and are easily preserved by drying to be used throughout the year.
In a small community allotment, consider crops that regrow quickly and can provide you with multiple harvests per season, such as kale, lettuce, cabbage, or broccoli. Plant seeds with a short seed-to-harvest time so that you can succession plant a new crop once you harvest the first. Radish, carrots, spinach, and beets are all great options with high nutritional value. You can also consider crops that can be used in various ways - garlic is a go-to for most cooked meals, can be preserved by pickling or freezing, and can be used medicinally as tinctures or infused in oil. The early shoots that emerge (called garlic scapes) can be harvested before they flower and used in pesto or grilled as a tasty side dish.
If you do not have any outdoor space at all, some excellent vertical hydroponic or aeroponic systems on the market work well for indoor growing in a sunny window or under a grow light setup. You can use these for fresh herbs all year long or to have a constant supply of high-nutrition greens like spinach and bok choy.
If you live in the city, but outside of the downtown core - perhaps a townhouse or duplex where you have access to a small lawn - your options for growing are already significantly increased. While some things may still need to be grown in containers, having space for planting in the ground can give you more flexibility. You may also have more space indoors for seed-starting and processing crops once they are harvested, increasing your options even more.
If you do not want to dedicate your whole space to growing food, consider adding native perennial flowering plants to your landscaping - this will attract pollinators to your area, contribute to local biodiversity, and to the success of whatever crops you are growing for consumption.
The GardenSoxx® growing system would also work well for city growers. The mesh tubing comes in 3 widths, allowing it to be used for a variety of crops. GardenSoxx® is incredibly easy to set up and removes the need for weeding - fill the mesh will quality compost and use it directly on concrete or any other surface to maximize your growing space. You can grow virtually anything using this system - and lay it out in whatever configuration works best for your space.
You can also consider using raised beds for urban growing, as they keep your crops contained, give you more control over the growing medium and provide a convenient way to harvest that is less physically straining. Companion planting and succession planting are ideal concepts to familiarize yourself with when growing with space limitations - knowing which crops can support one another and always having something to harvest will help you to maximize the space and be as efficient in your efforts as possible.
Getting to know your neighbors can be a valuable part of urban farming that may come with multiple benefits. If your neighbors are also interested in trying their hand at gardening, sharing and trading your harvests is a great way to reduce your need to grow a ton of variety on your small plot of land. Instead, you can focus on two to three crops you feel confident growing and use your excess harvest to trade with your neighbors.
You can also find potential customers to buy your excess goods by getting to know the neighbours that prefer not to use their land for growing. Access to an urban farm can contribute to “a stronger sense of community and connection between growers and eaters by making it possible for residents to see where their food is grown” (3).
While this type of backyard farming may offer you the most flexibility, growers with a larger land area can still benefit from strategic planning to maximize their use of space and their harvested yields. While raised beds and the GardenSoxx® system can be highly effective for larger spaces, you can also consider turning your entire backyard into a market garden concept by creating permanent raised beds in a block system for convenience and efficiency.
These beds can be made by piling earth up to around 4 to 6 inches high and leaving alleyways free between beds for circulation during garden work. Ideally, the beds should be uniform and not exceed 30 inches wide with a footpath of 18 inches or so (4). You can arm yourself with a variety of helpful garden tools like a broad fork, dibber, shovel, and wheelbarrow to get started; having the right tools for your needs will make gardening chores much easier and less time-consuming, especially if growing is not going to be a full-time commitment for you.
With a larger space, you can also afford extra conveniences to improve your efficiency: a greenhouse for seed starting and cold-season growing, a shed to store tools and equipment, and an outdoor washing station to clean produce before bringing it inside. Adding some extra sustainable features can also enhance your backyard farming experience - set up some barrels to collect rainwater, dedicate a corner to composting - check your city bylaws to see if you can own a few chickens. You may find that one small step toward sustainability can create a positive domino effect in setting you on a path of true self-sufficiency.
Having a large backyard will allow you to grow not only the crops that you regularly consume but gives you the added benefit of experimenting with different crops and trying your hand at something new. While you may want to focus most of your space on high-nutrition, productive items, you can set aside a small plot for something different every year, and add your successes into the regular rotation once you know they work.
Get creative with your planning - backyard farming does not have to be restricted to garden rows of vegetables. Find a spot to plant an apple or pear tree, and line your property with berry bushes and other edible or medicinal perennials. Fill the front yard with an array of native wildflowers to attract pollinators and provide you with fresh bouquets for your kitchen table. Ensuring that every plant has a purpose is the optimal way of maximizing your space and using it to its full potential.
Now is a perfect time to consider becoming an urban grower, regardless of the space or experience you may have. The ideas presented above are just suggested starting points; getting involved in your local community can be a great way to begin. Visit your local garden center and ask about possible community events or educational seminars - you may be surprised to find out that there are already urban farms around you that you can visit for inspiration. Some cities may even offer free native flower seedlings, compost, or other items at the beginning of the growing season to encourage city-dwellers to start their own growing projects.
Whatever your reason may be, urban farming has so many benefits that you are sure to discover more reasons for doing it once you get started. The Soil For Humanity blog and our other social media channels are excellent resources for those starting out, and for more seasoned growers alike - providing a space for learning, sharing and growing together.
Follow us on instagram, facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to stay informed, to get ideas and inspiration for all of your gardening, farming and homesteading adventures.
Cited Sources
1.https://www.clf.org/blog/the-power-of-urban-agriculture-in-transforming-a-community/
2.https://www.vox.com/2016/5/15/11660304/urban-farming-benefits
3.https://www.clf.org/blog/promise-potential-urban-agriculture/
4.https://themarketgardener.com/farming/biointensive-agriculture-how-to-cultivate-in-permanent-raised-beds/]]>The inviting atmosphere entering the restaurant is a perfect introduction to the warm welcome provided by the knowledgeable and helpful staff. With rustic yet elegant decor, no detail has been spared in creating a comfortable and relaxed environment for guests to feel truly at home. Warming ourselves up by the antique wood-burning stove, we had the opportunity to chat with Tapp and learn more about how this project came to be and where it may be heading.
The main objective of the restaurant is to provide a space for discovering the joy of fresh, local eating - consuming vegetables and other artisan products in season, where flavor profiles are at their absolute peak. They hope to also inspire curiosity amongst patrons regarding how to expand their knowledge on fresh organic produce and different ways to consume it. With rooms available to stay for the night, their agritourism model will surely bring in visitors from far and wide, looking to discover the scenic area’s attractions throughout the seasons.
While the persistent winter in Quebec makes it impossible for any crops to be sown or grown outdoors at this time, a large greenhouse next to the restaurant houses the greens currently showcased on Espace Old Mill’s seasonal menu. Between our tasting menu dinner courses, all restaurant patrons were invited to the greenhouse to meet with Fortier to hear more about how the project is coming together.
Fortier’s greenhouse set up includes an innovative heating system that allows the rows of greens to be heated without raising the temperature in the entire greenhouse, cutting back costs and energy in a way that stays true to his sustainable roots. The greenhouse was already flourishing with various greens, radishes, and baby spinach highlighted on tonight’s menu. At the front of the greenhouse, a heated table is used to germinate tomatoes and other seedlings for early spring planting.
Fortier uses a succession planting method, ensuring the soil always produces a new crop as the last is turned over - building the soil health by rotating what is planted in each plot. When pest problems surface, he is adamant about using an Integrated Pest Management system that targets the pest in question and reduces any need for chemical inputs. He is always striving to find ways to best work with nature and subsequently reap the abundance that she provides.
While still aiming for success in this new venture, Fortier is clear in his intentions that this project is not about prioritizing profits. Throughout his years as a market gardener, author, advocate, and educator, his philosophy has been consistent: Healthy food should be accessible to all. While not everyone may be inspired to farm themselves, there is much empowerment in simplifying our food chain and great benefit in educating communities about the growing importance of food sovereignty. This philosophy is reflected deeply in the energy surrounding Espace Old Mill. As we left the greenhouse to continue our farm-to-table dinner, the connection that had been made served to elevate our experience even more.
In addition to the food grown on-site, every ingredient that makes up each dish on their menu is locally sourced. This includes local farm fresh meat and an array of local wines, ciders, beers, and spirits to complement the cuisine. By being adamant about keeping everything local, the team at Espace Old Mill has genuinely created a celebration of community - where competition is irrelevant, and everyone gets an opportunity to shine.
As our world faces increasing challenges related to our reliance on mass-produced goods for mass consumption - there is a growing need to return to this idea of community as the benefits of consuming local food stretch beyond the improved taste and freshness of the food itself. Food consumed shortly after harvest is also proven to be healthier and contain more nutrients than crops harvested before they are fully ripe (and made to sit on a truck or supermarket shelf for weeks before arriving on your table) (1).
The benefits of using sustainable practices cannot be overstated here - when a grower prioritizes the health of their soil, they also prioritize the health of those consuming their crops. The advantages of small-scale agriculture mean growers can often produce a wider variety of crops, often including heirloom and non-commercial varieties, leading to increased yields and wider biodiversity within the local area (2). This type of food system boasts even more benefits when you factor in the profits being recycled back into the local economy - the local employment opportunities it creates and the connections built between farmers, consumers, and the community.
While industrial agriculture is often seen as the solution to an increasing world population, small-scale and family-run farms produce over 70% of the world’s food (2). The Farm-to-Table movement is a beautiful way to highlight this fact and make it more widely known. Projects like Espace Old Mill have the potential to truly shift the culture around how we eat - and should be revered for their positive impact on the sustainable agriculture movement as a whole. The agritourism aspect also benefits community-building by offering rounded experiences that educate visitors on the importance of sustainable agriculture in a recreational way (3).
The experience at Espace Old Mill is a small, inspired step to what can surely have the potential to become a global movement back to self-reliance, food security, and sustainability. We hope that more and more community food systems get on board with this type of farm-to-table and agritourism model, promoting the enjoyment of local, healthy eating paired with a cultivated appreciation for sustainable growing practices. What a difference this would make in our food system as a whole, our individual health, and our collective humanity.
For more information about Espace Old Mill, visit their website: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/
Sources:
]]>As the first user of water resources (about 70-80%), agriculture “needs to radically increase its efficiency to respond to declining resources” (1). As this resource becomes more scarce, the demand grows for adequate drinking water for a growing population and clean water that supports a healthy ecosystem for humans and wildlife alike. While switching to more sustainable practices is a start, every facet of water management in agriculture needs to be looked at to mitigate and ultimately eliminate problems at their very source - before the runoff creates more significant issues that are more difficult to address.
While some of the effects of agriculture on waterways are straightforward, others are not immediately obvious. Of course, as synthetic chemical inputs became more widely used in the 1940s and beyond, it was to be expected that the excess of these harmful pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides would eventually find their way into surrounding waterways. While it is true that biologically healthy soil can act as a filter for contamination, as the soil is depleted of its natural microbiology, the contaminants will begin to leach through more and more. Chemical inputs are not the only problem, and a growing number of farmers are becoming more mindful of their effects, causing them to implement more natural alternative solutions.
However, just because something is labeled as natural does not mean it can be used without consequence. Some natural inputs may still cause an imbalance of nutrients in the soil. For example, inputs that are exceptionally high in nitrogen may still be considered natural - but if that nitrogen is not all taken up by the plant roots, the excess will still run off and leach into surrounding waterways. It has been established that this higher concentration of nitrogen (and other nutrients like phosphorus) can lead to “Eutrophication, [which] promotes algae growth and depletes oxygen in the water [having a] severe impact on aquatic life and water quality.” (2).
Another issue that can occur naturally is excess water salinity. While salts are naturally present in soil and water bodies, if a field is not properly irrigated, this can lead to salt buildup and larger saline deposits in waterways. The result is salinization, which can harm the biodiversity in fresh water, affecting many species of organisms, animals, plants, and algae (3). Additionally, farms that raise livestock can contribute to the pollution of waterways as their waste can be washed into aquifers and bring with it excess nutrients, but also viruses, bacteria, parasites, and traces of any antibiotic treatments that farmers may be using.
While some runoff from these farms goes directly into waterways through heavy rain or excess irrigation, some also make their way into the aquifers that feed into widely used irrigation systems. The problematic components from the runoff are deposited as sediment in the aquifers. They are not being cleared out each time new water is replenished - amplifying the problem for farmers and making it difficult to resolve.
One of the significant problems facing the agriculture industry over the last decade has been increasing drought caused by mostly unpredictable changes in climate. One of the hardest hit areas in the USA is California, which ranks first in all 50 states for agricultural exports due to the generally mild climate and fertile land. The drought problem has gotten so bad that legislation has been passed in California to try to mitigate the problem, with the government introducing the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in 2014 (4).
While the legislation has been introduced to improve the situation, it poses a challenge for smaller growers in the Central Valley who may be unable to afford to buy land in areas without water regulations. This may contribute to a decline in crop diversity as smaller farms will be forced to only produce their most profitable crops. And, as a catch-22 - less variety in crops can result in increased water contamination due to nutrient imbalances, soil erosion, and less biodiversity.
The consistent drought also means that the water in aquifers is being used up more quickly than it is being replenished. This drives up the costs for water filtration and means that wells continuously need to be dug deeper, posing an issue to the land itself. With no water holding the land up and in place, many parts of California face subsidence when the land continues to sink lower due to the lack of structure underground (4).
Water quality and soil health are connected, especially in agriculture; you cannot have one without the other. Whatever the soil cannot hold ends up in the water system - and that same water eventually ends up in the soil. Poor soil with too loose of a structure will lead to increased nutrient leaching and erode more quickly into waterways, bringing viruses, bacteria, and pathogens along with it. In contrast, soil with no drainage will lead to concentrated salt and mineral deposits that will harm fields, and the runoff from this soil will also create problems for waterways.
When soil is tilled and disturbed often, the organic matter and microbes will quickly degrade and no longer be able to cycle nutrients. Anything that is applied to the top of the soil will simply be flushed with the next rainfall - so not only is the runoff water highly polluted and toxic, but the farmer’s investment in fertilizer or other inputs is simply being washed away.
A balanced, healthy soil with enough organic matter to be well structured will hold the appropriate amount of water. This water will contribute to nutrients being more available for plant uptake and less likely to be washed away unused.
While water management has been a hot topic in agriculture for many years, there has also been headway made toward potential solutions. The growing regenerative movement prioritizes issues such as water management; those following regenerative agriculture principles are seeing promising results in restoring balance to our waterways. By eliminating soil-degrading practices such as tilling, monocropping, and leaving fields fallow, water sources can benefit from the reduction in contamination.
Allowing the soil to regenerate, leaving room for soil organisms to multiply and thrive, increasing the organic matter in the soil, and allowing it to cycle nutrients properly - this helps tremendously with water being retained in the soil where it is needed. When soil can hold that water in the root zone, it continues to provide life for the microbes in the soil, which in turn consume the nutrients and make them available for plant uptake. This means fewer nutrients being washed away with rainfall and irrigation efforts - and healthier plants that keep the cycle moving in the right direction. Natural soil amendments have been proven to help quickly improve the soil's health while other sustainable practices are slowly being implemented.
Aside from optimizing soil health, farmers need to closely monitor their water use and diagnose problems as soon as they are found. Things like rainwater harvesting, water conservation, and investing in drip irrigation throughout their fields are helpful ways that farmers can help to minimize their use of this resource while still ensuring the growth and health of their crops. Farmers can also determine the amount of water a crop needs and apply only what is required (3).
While farmers need to be aware of how they use their resources, they are not the only ones responsible for solving water management issues. Many farmers have been engaging in the same practices for decades and possibly generations - if something is working well for them, asking them to change their methods might be met with resistance and apprehension. Governments and policy-makers must educate farmers on the situation and offer incentives to adopt better practices that can make a difference. Offering training in more sustainable methods and then measuring their performance against those of their fellow growers can encourage farmers to continue implementing the techniques needed to improve water use and management.
As new technologies become available, farmers need to have access to them. With ongoing advancements in water filtration systems, it is essential for farmers to know what is available, at what cost, and how to install and use them (5). Farmers can make the most of their water by reusing it onsite without constantly sourcing more from the depleted aquifers. Even as new technology evolves and becomes available, farmers can also resort to more traditional methods of water management - those that have proven effective over decades of widespread use. Farmers can create strategic areas for water runoff to flow, directing it to their empty fields to return to the ground instead of into waterways. Recycling water from urban areas can also be a better alternative to continuing to deplete wells.
As we look at the various solutions concerning water management in agriculture, it is clear that plenty of options are available. Each farmer can assess their particular situation and find something that works for them that they can implement without disruption to their usual production practices. Continuing to provide training and education to farmers should be the priority of the government and policy-makers. Water is a finite resource that the entire planet must share - and it is in our best interests to use it wisely and continue to improve our management of this most precious resource.
Sources:
2. https://www.eea.europa.eu/signals/signals-2015/articles/agriculture-and-climate-change
3. https://www.fao.org/3/i7754e/i7754e.pdf
5. https://meistermedia.turtl.co/story/gati-global-insight-series-water-technology-and-sustainability
]]>While many homeowners will happily keep up with regular maintenance by cutting and watering their lawns, they likely are not thinking much about other factors that can negatively impact the grass. Weather changes like frost or drought and damage done by kids and pets, can turn this regular maintenance into a time-consuming chore. Most don’t think beyond the surface of the grass and ignore the potential of using a quality soil conditioner for lawns that can help keep them green and thriving.
As with anything that grows, the key to keeping grass healthy lies below the surface - and depends on the array of organisms found in the soil. If you want your lawn to be lush and green, treating the soil it grows in will give you the best possible chance for success.
Before heading out to pick up a popular summer lawn fertilizer, it is essential to understand the risks of using synthetic chemicals, even just for grass-growing. While some dangers are apparent, such as the health risk that chemicals can pose to children and pets who play in the grass, other harmful effects may not immediately cross your mind. Chemical inputs can harm growth over time - as grass becomes dependent on them and requires more frequent applications.
Because these chemical inputs typically have high levels of specific nutrients, they can cause an imbalance in the soil, resulting in plant roots no longer being able to uptake the nutrients as the soil becomes oversaturated. This can cause chemicals to get washed away with rain and irrigation, leaching into surrounding waterways. An imbalance in your lawn soil’s pH levels can also lead to an influx of weeds or grass that appears yellow instead of green.
While maintaining a manicured lawn isn’t typically synonymous with sustainability, ensuring that the soil is healthy allows you to enjoy this luxury with the added peace of mind of knowing you are not engaging in practices that compromise the environment's health (or your own).
While the name may raise some eyebrows at the mention of the word “acid”, this safe and entirely natural substance is already present in the soil. It is created through the natural breakdown and decay of plant and animal matter over a long period of time. While not all humic acid is derived from the same sources, they all have a similar effect on the soil by adding structure that benefits the soil in various ways.
Our Humic Acid products derived from peat have the added benefit of being sustainably sourced and produced without heating or chemical fillers. This process of cavitation and find grinding not only keeps the microbial life in the product intact but results in a product that is also high in organic matter and will benefit your soil from the very first application.
The increase in soil structure will allow the soil to hold more water, which is especially beneficial if you have watering restrictions in your area - this will reduce the amount of water your lawn will need in general. Improved structure and aeration in the soil will encourage soil microbes to thrive and engage in symbiotic relationships with the grass roots, improving nutrient uptake and overall health of the grass (as well as any other trees and shrubs that may be growing on your property).
While adding another step and extra expense to your lawn maintenance may not excite you, humic acid is extremely easy to use and very affordable, as a little bit goes a long way. Whether tending to a small patch of grass or a more extensive suburban lawn - you can easily add humic acid to your regular watering routine as it is entirely water-soluble. It can also run directly through your irrigation system for larger properties without clogging.
Because humic acid benefits all types of soil and vegetation, you may find yourself with more than just green grass as a result. Shrubs, trees, and other perennials will show signs of new growth and increased vigor. Your lawn will be more resistant to environmental stress, pest problems, and disease.
Humic acid can be applied at the beginning of the growing season and again every 3-4 weeks or so for a total of 3-4 applications. Another final application before the first frost will help to protect your grass over winter.
You do not need to worry about applying too much - overapplication will not harm the soil or vegetation. However, just a small amount is enough to reap the benefits - so there is no need to over-use it as that would be wasteful.
Once you see how easy humic acid is to use and the results it can bring to your lawn, you may be tempted to start cultivating a green thumb. Consider adding some perennials or some native flowers to attract pollinators. Carve out a small space in your front or backyard for a few herbs or vegetables - all of which will surely benefit from the healthier soil.
The best part about using natural soil amendments for lawn maintenance is being able to reap the benefits they bring while knowing that you are not causing any harm or long-term damage to the environment - and that peace of mind alone is worth the switch to more sustainable options.
For a small property below 2 acres, check out Kaytonik™ - a blend of humic and fulvic acid that can also be used on houseplants to boost their health and reduce their watering needs.
If you are tending to a much larger span of turf, contact us for more information about Humic Land™, which may be better suited to your needs.
]]>First and foremost, take the winter season to plan. Depending on your current zone, you may still be in the cold and snowy months of the year, and this is a perfect time to sit back with a cup of tea and brainstorm for the upcoming growing season. While some seeds require an early start, many will only need to be started a few weeks before the last frost, while others can be sown directly in the ground once the weather gets warmer. Even in colder climates, you will notice that garden supplies are starting to line the shelves at your local dollar and hardware stores in preparation for the warmer times to come.
Before you get out to the garden center, grab a notepad and take down these tips to help make this year’s garden planning a breeze.
When starting your first garden, avoid getting over-ambitious. After all, you want this to be simple and not consume your time. Additionally, if this is your first time growing, expect to run into a few setbacks, and remember that this is a learning process. When making a list of what seeds to purchase, start with regularly consumed items. For example, if you are the only person in your family of five that enjoys beets - consider continuing to purchase those instead of using up valuable space in the garden for them.
Focus on the items you purchase most at the store - and research the time to harvest for each. If your garden space is limited, check what grows best in your growing zone and stick to relatively low-maintenance crops. If you have lots of room to work with, then still focus on what you consume most, but use some space to experiment and try different things.
Depending on your setup, waiting until early spring to buy seedlings you can transplant might make sense instead of starting crops from seed yourself. If you have the indoor space to start a few crops, try it! Empty egg cartons, egg shells, and even plastic cupcake boxes make great containers for seed starting. Set up your seeds in a window that gets lots of light, and have fun watching them slowly break the soil's surface.
Speaking of empty egg cartons and cupcake boxes, our next lazy gardening tip is to start by using things you already have. You would be surprised with how much can be reused when starting your first garden - and may find yourself coming up with fun ways to challenge yourself to be as sustainable as possible. Saving your coffee grounds for nitrogen-rich fertilizer, using raked leaves and grass clippings as mulch, and finding items in your shed that can be repurposed for a makeshift trellis are all great ways to save time and money in your new garden.
Look around your garage and shed to see what you have lying around before making a trip to the store. Think outside the box, and don’t be afraid to experiment. There is no need to go out and buy a ton of supplies - the only things we would suggest to invest in and purchase new is a good pair of gardening gloves and a few essential tools (like a hand pruner, a trowel, and a simple rake for starters).
If you are willing to invest some money into your garden space, whether you have a little or a lot of room - GardenSoxx® may be an ideal solution. If all you have is a small patio and no useable soil - GardenSoxx® allows you to maximize that space and start growing on the concrete or wood. For those of you with a larger backyard who want to get set up with a garden that is as low-maintenance as possible - they can also help you to do just that.
The durable and reusable mesh can be filled with pure compost and fitted with a drip irrigation system (in fact, everything you need for this system is included with a GardenSoxx® kit!). Once filled, you can place the GardenSoxx® in any configuration you have space for - even vertically as a garden wall!
Cut holes in the mesh and transplant your seedlings of choice - you will be amazed at how much you can grow in just a few feet of GardenSoxx®. And the best part? Weeding is virtually unnecessary with GardenSoxx® - as the mesh and growing medium keep your garden weed-free.
Whether as part of the GardenSoxx® kit mentioned above or just added to your existing Garden beds - an irrigation system is a MUST for the lazy gardener. This will take the guesswork out of watering and ensure your plants are always well-hydrated. Hook the system to a timer, and you will never need to worry about watering again.
A drip system is much more ideal than a sprinkler head or soaker hose, as it will ensure that the water is fed directly to the garden soil and not landing on the foliage of your plants. Water that stays on foliage can cause burning on hot sunny days, and you can also risk over-watering your plants.
If you plan to do some building of your own to install a dedicated garden space in your backyard, then some preliminary planning can go a long way. First, you can choose an area that gets a good amount of sun for most of the day. If parts of your backyard also get some shade, then plan your crops wisely to fill those areas with plants that may not need as much sun.
Make sure to build the garden beds narrow enough, as you want them to be easy to work in when planting and harvesting. Consider a size of about 3-4 feet wide by 6-8 feet long. Raised beds are ideal for helping minimize the strain on your back while planting and harvesting - and remember to add a wide ledge around the bed, as this can make a perfect seat during bouts of weeding and other garden tasks.
When filling the beds, you can start with large stones and thick cuts of branches or chunks of wood to promote drainage at the bottom of the bed - layer on raked leaves and other organic matter before topping with garden soil. This will minimize the soil you need to fill the bed and provide a good base for all those microorganisms to start multiplying.
When starting a garden, ambition and excitement can sometimes cause us to forget the amount of maintenance that can come with this new task. On top of watering, pruning, and harvesting - your garden will likely need to be weeded regularly. If you do not have a ton of free time, this task can get out of hand pretty quickly and end up making your gardening venture less desirable than you had originally hoped.
Thankfully, a simple solution can greatly minimize this task and does not involve any chemical sprays or investment. (If you have decided to go the route of using GardenSoxx® - then you will be happy to note that your time can be spent doing other tasks, as weeding is not something you need to fret over in that case).
If you are using raised beds or planting directly in the ground soil, do yourself a favor and find some cardboard in early spring before your planting starts. Ensure the cardboard has no colored dyes or chemical coating, as this can contaminate the soil. There are two ways you can go about smothering out weeds:
If you are starting a garden bed from scratch, place the cardboard down on the ground and your compost and garden soil on top of it. Provided you are starting with quality compost and fresh soil, you will have minimal weeds with this method.
If you are using an existing garden bed or plot - lay down some cardboard (a plastic tarp also works well) over the soil a few weeks before transplanting your seedlings. Weigh the cardboard down with stones or pieces of wood, and leave it there until you are ready to plant. When left for a few weeks, the cardboard will block out the sun and kill off a good part of the weeds lurking under the soil's surface.
The most effective and efficient way to grow a successful garden is to start with healthy soil. This is the best way to prevent the setbacks of plant disease, pests, and poor growing conditions. While building up soil can sometimes take time, there are some quick and simple ways to speed the process along. Investing in good quality compost can benefit your garden, but it can get expensive if you grow in a larger space. Making your own compost is also great - but as this is a guide for lazy gardeners, that may not be the ideal solution for you (don’t get us wrong, it CAN be easy, but it requires some time and effort).
Using a natural soil amendment like Kaytonik™ can save you tons of effort, speed up your time to harvest, and leave you with healthy, luscious vegetable yields that will impress your family and neighbors. Not only does Kaytonik™ build soil health by adding in organic matter, but it will reduce watering needs as it retains moisture and nutrients in the soil where they are needed most for plant uptake.
Finally, our last tip for the lazy gardener is to take a break. It may sound silly, but some garden tasks are unnecessary, and leaving them out ultimately can help your garden thrive. One example of this is tilling; reducing the amount of soil disturbance in your garden will significantly increase the health of your soil by allowing the microorganisms to keep multiplying. Also, when a crop is wholly harvested, and the plant is no longer producing, do not strain yourself by trying to pull out those deeply rooted plant roots! Cut the plant at the base and leave the roots in the soil - as they decompose, they will provide essential food and nutrients for the soil microbes.
Let’s be honest - gardening is no easy task in general. It takes time and patience and may require you to learn new skills and tricks you did not know before. That being said, it does not have to be all-consuming, and it can be an enjoyable way to get your family outside in the spring and summer. The satisfaction of growing your food is a great reason to make an effort. Whether you want to repurpose your backyard into an ample garden space or plant a few crops in containers on your balcony, the tips we laid out here can help you save time, money, and energy.
]]>While pesticides and chemical inputs have been the popular route in agriculture for the last several decades, the impact these methods have on our soil, and our health has become impossible to ignore. The market for biologicals is growing at a fast rate and some even speculate that they “have the potential to not only replace chemical pesticides with biopesticides but also to complement or replace agricultural chemical fertilizers, alleviate abiotic stress and increase crop yields”, allowing them to “compete in the $240 billion market for chemical pesticides and fertilizers” (1).
While the word is a bit of an umbrella term, its definition is rather straightforward in that it “represents a broad category of plant protection products that are derived from living organisms” (2). From inputs to management systems to biotechnologies, the biologicals market aims to work with our planet’s known natural systems, in an attempt to cause the least amount of environmental harm while obtaining the highest possible results for crop health, yield, and quality.
The use of biologicals takes on a more holistic and preventative approach to agriculture, growing in parallel with the regenerative movement. To get the most from natural solutions, one must consider that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach – and it should be known that all environmental factors must be considered to come up with a plan tailored to each particular grower and their needs.
Biologicals represent a collection of natural tools and technology that benefit growers looking to incorporate more sustainable methods, as they are much safer in general. Biopesticides, biofertilizers, and biostimulants derived from only natural materials are a few examples of biologicals – but they extend beyond these products as well. Biologicals can also include soil amendments, plant extracts, and beneficial insects.
While biological solutions can be implemented to address a variety of specific issues, the purpose for going this more natural route is typically to appease a grower’s desire to implement safer practices that benefit multiple aspects of their growing operation. Unlike chemical inputs or fertilizers that target one specific need, biologicals can offer a greater overall benefit to the farm as they work to solve the issue for which they are being used. That being said, it may take time to see all the benefits that they can bring.
When implementing a biological approach to pests, such as an Integrated Pest Management system – growers must be prepared to have patience and trust the process. Although chemical insecticides may work more quickly, they destroy more than just pests; they can have detrimental effects on the beneficial bugs and pollinators present on your farm, causing imbalances in the soil microbiology which can have long-term negative effects on your crop.
An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system involves a few key components:
An IPM solution can sometimes involve making some tough decisions that can occasionally result in losing a small percentage of the crop. This is not always the case, but the farmer ultimately gets to make the final decisions and must weigh the risks and benefits of each approach.
Introducing beneficial Insects can be an extremely effective way to control pest damage to a crop – as these beneficials will target the specific pest in question, without harming the crop – in some instances they may even add the extra benefit of pollinating or supporting existing pollinators. This approach relies on creating a functioning eco-system on your farm or in your greenhouse, that allows nature’s cycles to be put to work, in favor of the farmer. From aphids to whiteflies, even soil-dwelling pests like root-knot nematodes can be effectively controlled by introducing specific predator insects proven to balance out the pest population. Better yet, beneficial Insects pose no risk at all to humans, unlike harsh chemical insecticides.
Taking a holistic approach, of course, involves looking at the big picture – not just focusing on what is above the ground. It is important to consider the pivotal role of soil health in ensuring that crops are as resistant as possible to pest infestations. A healthy ecosystem involves more than just the insects that we can easily see – the vast array of microorganisms in the soil are the building blocks of this ecosystem and must also be kept in balance.
For a plant to be healthy, it must be able to properly photosynthesize. This process is reliant not only on the energy it is absorbing from the sun, but the water and carbon dioxide it is absorbing from the atmosphere and the soil. The energy taken in by a plant during the process of photosynthesis produces sugars that feed the plant by circulating throughout the stem to the foliage, and also passing through the roots. These sugars do not only feed the plant itself, but as they are released in the form of exudates at the root zone. The exudates also provide food for the soil microorganisms. When a plant can properly photosynthesize, it creates symbiotic relationships with soil organisms and in turn, becomes increasingly healthy.
We measure the sugar content of the plant in what is called “Brix Levels” – the higher the Brix level of a plant, the healthier it is deemed to be. A plant with high Brix levels will even look healthier, displaying bright green crisp leaves and a sturdy upright stem with no signs of wilting. Additionally, when a plant reaches a high Brix level, the sugars in the plant become undigestible to many of the insects who would normally feed on that plant – and so they move along to find something more suitable for their diet. In fact, a Brix level of 14 and above “means not just that insects will not attack a given plant but that they will not even be attracted to the plant. In short, pest insects will pass over a high Brix field” (4).
Giving crops the best possible chance to be healthy starts with taking a good look at the soil they are growing in. Another important category of biologicals breaking through into conventional agriculture is soil amendments that contain living microorganisms, as they can work to restore the balance that is needed for proper nutrient cycling. When soil does not contain enough organic matter and biology, nutrients added via synthetic fertilizers can end up washed away into surrounding water systems before even having the chance to be absorbed.
Ensuring that the soil organic matter is present along with a varied population of microbiology, will provide an environment that encourages nutrient cycling, allowing plants to uptake exactly what they need without it leaching into waterways. This can significantly decrease the need for fertilizers or eliminate them entirely over time. Using an amendment that contains humic acid and fulvic acid, which are compounds that occur naturally in soil, will help sustain the soil biology that is already present and encourage it to multiply and thrive.
An amendment like Humic Land™ is especially effective because of how it is produced; Through a process of grinding and cavitation of black peat, without the use of any heat or chemical extraction, the microbial life is maintained and remains present in the final product. The combination of both the organic matter and this native microbiology works holistically to benefit the soil by creating more structure. In many cases, this has been shown to help retain moisture and nutrients that can sustain crops and help to improve their overall health.
There is no doubt that conventional agriculture practices are shifting. While farmers have always been stewards of the land, taking care to preserve the resources that they manage – the pressure to keep up with demand and unpredictable environmental factors has forced them to adopt certain practices simply to survive. As the effects of these practices begin to take a toll, the agriculture industry is being forced to adapt to more regenerative methods to restore that balance.
As limits are increasingly being placed by governments and export markets on the use of chemicals, growers will need to seek out alternative solutions to ensure that they can stay in business. (5) This puts biological products in a highly sought-after position in the market. It also highlights the importance of looking at the big picture when trying to address problems in the field – instead of resorting to quick solutions that may cause long-term damage.
At Rogitex, our mission is to offer growers the support they need to confidently adopt this holistic approach. Our educational resources, soil analysis program and soil-friendly products allow us to work with growers to build a program geared toward sustainable production that continues to benefit their bottom line. Our highly qualified team is here to help create a strategy specifically tailored to your crop and growing zone, offering our expertise through consultations and trials that are guaranteed to unlock your full growth potential.
Contact us today to request more information on our products and services, and to find out how we can work together to create a better way for a bountiful harvest.
Sources:
1. https://news.agropages.com/News/Detail-38697.htm
2. https://croplife.org/case-study/what-are-biological-and-why-are-they-important/
3. https://soilbiotics.com/files/Building_BRIX_in_Plants.pdf
4. https://www.ecofarmingdaily.com/grow-crops/picky-eater-insects-pass-on-high-brix-plants/
5. https://www.growingproduce.com/crop-protection/more-produce-growers-expected-to-adopt-use-of-biological-products-in-2023/
Here are 5 simple things you can start doing today, to make for a greener New Year:
There are a few ways to go about this, but it does not have to be complicated. If you have a lot of land and are an avid gardener, making your own compost is a no-brainer. You can start up a pile at the far end of your backyard or invest in more sophisticated solutions like a self-contained layered vermicompost bin.
However, even if you are just starting out, there are simpler solutions that work well for regular households and that do not require a ton of space. Check out our Instagram Reel below that shows you how to start your own compost quickly and easily in a convenient tumbler:
Keeping a perfect lawn is one of the least sustainable things you can do. All that mowing and watering to ensure your grass is always green can be a waste of valuable resources to say the least.
Consider planting some native shrubs, or some wildflowers around your home to attract much needed pollinators. Doing so will not only help your own garden grow, but will help pollinator populations to thrive in your neighborhood. Contributing to this important cause even on a small scale can help in ways we may not even imagine.
It is a growing trend to transition a patch of lawn into a lower-maintenance "wild" patch or mini-meadow. It will save you time and money, and add a burst of color and whimsy to your curb appeal.
You don’t need much space to garden. In fact, even if all you have is a balcony, you can get yourself some great containers for small-scale growing (check out this easy and convenient GardenSoxx growing system that allows you to garden pretty much anywhere).
Start by choosing ONE vegetable or herb that you use most often, and focus on growing just enough so that you do not have to purchase it anymore. You may find a love for gardening in the process – and decide to expand to more options as time goes on.
If you do have space to garden, then start the year by doing some intentional planning for a vegetable garden. Being outdoors in the garden is proven to lower stress and anxiety and allows you to soak in essential Vitamin D and boost your immune system by exposing your body to natural microbes in the soil.
We can all benefit from reducing our exposure to chemicals and the garden is a great place to start. While many of us may be used to solving garden pest problems with insecticides, consider other solutions that do not cause harm to either the environment or your own health.
We may also be tempted to use fertilizers in the garden out of convenience, but studies are showing more and more that fertilizer use can be problematic to our own health and can lead to poor soil health in the long run. Even in the agriculture industry, there is a growing movement to reduce fertilizer use and move toward more natural solutions instead. You can support this movement on a smaller scale by adopting the same principles to your garden and using natural soil amendments instead of chemical inputs.
Create a tranquil green space around your home by setting out some bird baths and feeders, or simply start caring for a few houseplants to brighten up the inside of your home during the winter months. Consider adopting more natural solutions to life’s common ailments.
Finding a balance in your life that incorporates the natural world can do wonders for your body and your stress levels. Our modern lifestyles can be hectic and can often pull us away from nature; being able to recreate that balance even in small ways can provide a ton of benefits to our health and well-being.
Many of us resolve to be healthier when the New Year comes around - whether it is cutting out a bad habit we have adopted, or lose weight by implementing a new diet or workout routine. But living a healthier life does not have to come with so much pressure and restrictive goals. Implementing a few simple lifestyle changes that allow us to live more in alignment with the world around us can have incredible benefits, both on a personal and collective level.
May this New Year bring you positive changes, whether big or small, that move you steadily toward a happier and healthier life overall!
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The emerging generation of young farmers are now being faced with a dilemma – as the world is shifting, the detrimental effects of conventional agriculture on both our climate and our individual health are becoming impossible to ignore or deny. As we face up to this harsh reality, we also understand that the fault does not lie with our parents or grandparents – that the methods they implemented, while widely unsustainable in nature, were born of good intentions.
As world populations have grown throughout history, technological advancements in farming that led to increased production were generally seen as positive – little thought was given to the potential long-term damage they may create. Often, we only realize these things too late, and agriculture is no exception. It is now becoming commonly accepted that “early farmers often worked land in ways that depleted its fertility. Technological innovations like irrigation and the plow brought enormous gains in productivity, but when used irresponsibly they degraded soil—the very foundation that makes agriculture possible” (1).
Farming methods are not the only issue, however – there is much to say about the widely accepted use of synthetic fertilizers, even to this day. While fertilizer use has helped tremendously in boosting crop yields and feed the ever-growing world population, we cannot deny the effects that these products are having on our health. Not to mention the steadily rising costs associated with them are making it more difficult for farmers to make a living.
Much of our modern illness and disease can undeniably be linked back to chemicals found in the air we breathe and the food we eat. The system we are caught in runs deep, and reversing the damage is a lot more complicated than simply ceasing any one specific practice. Even natural fertilizers can be problematic when we consider that “the consumption of fresh produce from fields fertilized with manure from antibiotics-treated animals can spread resistance genes to the human gut microbiome and further the emergence of multi-drug-resistant human pathogens” (2).
There is an emerging philosophy that is permeating through the industry, that “the aim of modern agriculture should be to maintain and improve the health of the global human population, not simply to produce enough calories to feed the world” (3). With this perspective gaining momentum, a few things are happening as a result. Conventional family farms are facing the issue of younger generations being more apprehensive to take on the family business. Perhaps some may not be willing to learn these conventional methods in a time where they are being widely questioned; or they are simply overwhelmed at the idea of having to learn new sustainable methods on top of an already labor-intensive livelihood, especially with the wide variety of other career paths available that require less effort or learning curve.
It is encouraging to note, however, that as this generational gap may be widening in conventional farming, a new emergence of organic and regenerative farmers is simultaneously growing. There is an undeniable movement happening in younger generations who are taking much interest in returning to the land and learning the benefits of self-sustainability – even learning how to make careers within the movement itself. Market gardeners, small-scale regenerative farmers, and even homesteaders are creating a small but ever-expanding wave that is changing the face of agriculture and shifting the industry toward a more positive timeline. In fact, “in 2017, there were 908,274 new and beginning farmers producing on over 193 million acres of land, [making up] more than a quarter of all producers in America [that had been] farming for 10 years or less” (4).
The once solid bridge between generational farmers is becoming a succession gap that requires a new foundation. The new generation of farmers (and their predecessors) need to understand that while their parents and grandparents may still be a wealth of useful knowledge, the educational aspect of bridging this gap needs to become a two-way exchange. It is time for the older generation of farmers to pass along their knowledge, but with a heart and mind open to trusting that younger farmers with an increased sensitivity to climate, soil, and human health issues will take the reins in a way that integrates this new perspective. This new generation understands quite well that the methods they implement will directly affect their lives and those of future generations.
While outgoing farmers may display a resistance to these changes, they must also see that the movement is building, with or without them: “As food insecurity grows and our climate continues to suffer from the effects of industrialization, consumers are demanding that their food comes from responsible sources” (5). As a result, to keep their businesses profitable for the next succession, they need to shift with the times or risk being left in the degrading soils of the past.
The process of turning this situation around cannot be solely the responsibility of farmers – while they have the power to implement the changes, they need resources to help get the ball rolling. This aligned focus needs to happen beyond the agriculture industry, with governments and policymakers stepping up to provide financial and educational support toward more sustainable practices (7).
While governments are beginning to get on board by adding dedicated budget plans and policies that highlight sustainability in agriculture for the sake of mitigating climate change – more attention needs to be given to educational programs that focus on how these regenerative practices can be applied in a practical way. We also need to gain a better understanding of how each part of this important and necessary collective movement is intrinsically connected:
"Medical professionals need more education on nutrition and the positive impacts of an organic, whole-foods diet based on human health and regenerative organic farming methods. Farmers need more education on regenerative organic techniques and the potential for the food they grow to contribute to revitalized human health. Consumers need more education on how nutrition impacts their health, how farming practices impact the items most readily available to them, and how their buying habits will influence the quality and availability of future resources. Policy makers need to support governmental programs and policies that encourage positive change instead of subsidizing suboptimal practices" (3).
Arguably the most important focus for farmers should be shifting the way they manage their soil – as historically, conventional agriculture has “mismanaged this essential resource, sometimes with catastrophic results” (6). Reducing the use of chemical inputs and rebuilding soil health (using natural soil amendments and regenerative practices that restore the natural microbiology of the soil) need to be at the top of the list for young farmers who are looking to keep their family business thriving without contributing to this ongoing problem. While it may go against what they have grown up learning, the new generation must be willing to try something new. Educating themselves will give them the reassurance and confidence in knowing that there are indeed sustainable solutions that allow them to maintain high yields (and profits) without degrading the ground they grow in over time.
The resources already exist, and global movements related to the importance of soil conservation are consistently growing and gaining more and more interest with every passing day; but more effort needs to be made to bring these various entities together to start collaborating more efficiently. Building this new foundation for the bridge of succession in agriculture, must become a collective effort that stretches beyond just those involved in the industry itself. It is only through collaboration that we will find common ground – and can begin to cultivate new ideas in soil capable of growing them to fruition.
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If Soil Health and Sustainability are topics that interest you, we highly recommend the following educative resources to get started on your journey of learning:
Conscious Planet – Save Soil Movement
Dr Elaine’s Soil Food Web School
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The art of golf course and turf maintenance is complex and involves an intricate balancing act of pushing the grass to its limits while attempting to retain the health of the soil. Greenskeepers are faced with the challenge to keep everything looking picture perfect, despite a range of factors that make this more complicated than you might think. Not only are they dealing with constant soil and grass degradation due to foot traffic, golf carts and golf club/ball damage, but they also must consider environmental factors, ecological limitations as well as potential regional watering limits.
As we are seeing changes in agriculture with farmers moving toward more sustainable practices, with the looming threat of climate change and the call for reducing the amount of chemicals used on our natural resources, “courses are increasingly turning to renewables to revitalize lush greens and fairways” (1). The use of compost topdressing and naturally derived soil amendments have become increasingly popular additions to Greenskeepers’ arsenal of tools that aid in the maintenance of their turf. Using chemical-filled fertilizers and pesticides unfortunately acts as a short-term solution that will require more maintenance in the long-run and can have other harmful effects on the land and waterways that surround the course. Taking a more holistic approach can help to treat the grass at the roots and strengthen it enough to withstand the stress of daily maintenance.
It is no surprise or secret that the grass on golf courses sees a lot of wear and tear – not only from constant foot and golf cart traffic, golf balls and clubs constantly creating divots and dents – but the maintenance itself becomes a source of stress as the course is constantly being mowed, trimmed, fertilized, and watered. As a result, the grass needs to grow quickly and evenly, as well as be strong and resilient to stand up to these conditions. And as with most things, it is not always about what we see on the surface but what lies beneath that is of utmost importance. Strong, healthy grass requires a strong root biomass to stand up to the daily stress it experiences on a golf course.
A strong root system is borne of healthy soil with a sturdy structure that not only holds nutrients in place but creates a hospitable environment for microorganisms to cycle these nutrients and make them available to the plants growing in that soil. Soil amendments containing humic acid, such as Humic Land™, have been shown to increase soil structure as well as nutrient uptake, making plants more resistant to stress, disease, and pests. In a study done by the American Society for Horticultural Science, it was found that “treatments containing either peat or humic acid showed better turf quality than the untreated control” (2).
As Humic Land™ is a humic acid derived from sustainably-sourced peat – it presents a promising solution for Greenskeepers to use in conjunction with their other maintenance tools, to give the soil a boost of health which will increase its resilience.
While we may typically reserve golf games for sunny summer days, in certain regions where the weather remains mild, it can be a year-round activity. Unfortunately, even in mild climates, environmental factors like colder nights, increased rain or drought can easily affect the green colour of the grass on a course. Even in warm climates, grass may go brown in winter months and some courses resolve this by over-seeding while others may apply a green pigmented dye on grass to retain its colour. These practices can cause even more stress to grass roots and lead to poor soil health over time.
Keeping a good soil structure is of utmost importance in allowing the soil to retain the nutrients it needs and to cycle those nutrients to make them available for uptake by the plant roots. Because it increases soil structure, Humic Land™ reinforces the soil’s ability to withstand drought, while still allowing for proper drainage of excess water when necessary.
Increased nutrient cycling makes for healthier grass and means that golf courses treated with Humic Land™ have a higher chance of mitigating other environmental challenges such as pests and disease. Fall Armyworms are of particular concern for many golf courses and are typically treated with harsh insecticides in a curative/reactive way once the pest has already become a problem. When soil is healthy and thriving, the chance that this problem will even occur is greatly diminished and reduces the need for these harmful additional inputs.
While fertilizer can sometimes be a necessary tool for any grower, we are becoming increasingly aware of its harmful effects not only on soil health, but also on the waterways it can contaminate when leaching occurs. As part of their scenic nature, most golf courses will not only have ornamental ponds that can be home to aquatic life, but will often be located near other larger rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water. Because of this, Greenskeepers need to be extra mindful of what they are applying to their turf as the grass and soil will not be the only things that are impacted by inputs.
Furthermore, fertilizer is not necessarily a cure-all for the challenges faced by Greenskeepers. Gill Stiles, the superintendent at Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club (California), explains that “Just throwing fertilizer at a problem doesn’t always fix it. It depends on what you need. Some nutrients are mobile in the soil and must be replaced regularly. Others aren’t so mobile and are available longer” (3). Soil testing is an imperative first step to discovering which nutrients are already in abundance and which are lacking. Once this information is known, it will be easier to come up with a comprehensive solution to optimize the health of the soil overall.
Another issue that can be exacerbated by fertilizer and chemical inputs is soil salinity (salt content) which can negatively impact a plant’s root system – but these inputs are not the only thing causing this issue on golf courses.
Depending on the region in which they are located, golf courses can be subject to watering limits which may sometimes force them to have to use recycled water to irrigate their grounds. Because recycled water has a higher salinity than other water sources, this can negatively impact the health of the soil over time. The study done by the American Society for Horticultural Science speaks specifically to this issue, stating that “the application of humus increased the Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and improved turf quality over the untreated soils on two fairways that had either an inherent soil salinity problem or was irrigated with recycled water with high salt content. The effects on turfgrass health and turf quality were dependent on the rates of humus” (2).
While some regions will use recycled water, other regions may not even be permitted to do so and may need to reduce their watering schedules entirely at certain times of the year. The healthy soil structure attained by adding Humic Land™ leads to an increased ability for the soil to absorb the water needed to hold nutrients, while allowing excess moisture to drain when it has reached capacity (much like a sponge). A soil with a healthy balance of organic matter will be more likely to achieve balance in other ways as well, such as moisture content.
It is important to understand the intricacies involved in keeping crops healthy by feeding the soil in which they are grown. While golf courses differ from farms in many ways, Greenskeepers understandably take much pride in maintaining the health of their grass, just as farmers do their crops. Just as we are seeing in agriculture, sustainable solutions are gaining momentum on the greens. It is becoming increasingly clear that “soil amendments help give turf the strength and absorbance it needs to withstand daily mowing, watering and foot traffic” (4).
Derived from sustainable peat, Humic Land™ offers a more complete solution for your soil than other humic acids derived from leonardite or lignite. When worked into your regular spraying schedule, Humic Land™ can make a world of difference on your greens; creating that lush healthy landscape that will draw in golfers from every range.
Sources
Fast forward to recent decades, and we are now only beginning to see the detrimental effects of some of the agriculture industry’s most common practices. With chronic disease consistently on the rise, changing climate cycles, soil degradation and desertification becoming a rampant issue – there is overwhelming evidence that certain methods we have been using may be causing long-term harm despite their short-term benefits.
Fertilizer may not necessarily be the primary culprit, as we have also become more aware in recent years of the problematic use of Herbicides, Pesticides and GMO crops. But the bottom line is that unsustainable practices breed more unsustainable practices – like when you are prescribed a medication simply to help with the side effects of another medication you are currently taking. When considering our own health, the goal should be to get to root of the issue to resolve it, instead of layering in a variety of medications to create a patchwork, and ultimately temporary, solution. The same concept can be applied to crop health – a holistic approach to farming ensures that plants have all necessary nutritional and environmental factors they require for optimal growth.
When we continue to add inputs to the soil that throw its biological eco-system off balance, this will only increase the need to add MORE inputs to restore that balance – but here’s the thing: The soil is already a living organism to begin with. The life contained in the soil may be microscopic, but it is not lacking intelligence, nor does it need ANY help from us to thrive. The lushest and most thriving forests on Earth are those that remain untouched by humans, as their eco-systems overflow with vegetation and animal life that all works flawlessly together.
Applying this concept to our fields, however, will require some initial work. The practices we have had in place for over a century have resulted in decreased soil health and even a reduction in nutritional value of produce grown on conventional farms. To reverse the damage caused by these practices, we need to look toward implementing regenerative practices moving forward, to ensure our soil can continue to support life in a sustainable way and provide our world’s population with nutritious food for centuries to come. In short, we need to start focusing on treating the CAUSE of poor soil health, instead of just the symptoms.
A primary problem with Fertilizer is that it gives the illusion of health, while keeping issues buried under the surface of the soil. Using fertilizer requires knowledge and a delicate balancing act to ensure you are not applying too little (which will result in poor growth) or too much, which can damage plant root systems. Because fertilizer is formulated to increase the size of the fruit growing on a plant, the boost of nutrients available for uptake will only increase growth above the surface. Unfortunately, this growth happens too quickly for the plant to establish a strong root system and adequate foliage, compromising the health of the plant overall.
Your crop yield may be higher in the short-term, but the nutritional content of the harvest will be lower, and the health of both the plant and the soil will be compromised. It would be comparable to thinking you are keeping your children healthy by only feeding them vitamins, instead of a well-balanced diet that contains a variety of nutrients they need for optimal health.
At first, struggling plants may seem to turn around; but they are being pushed and stressed beyond their limitations, and are not being given a well-rounded supply of everything they need to grow. Less foliage on a plant means poor photosynthesis due to a lack of chlorophyll, reducing the sugars that are normally provided by that chlorophyll and ultimately resulting in less nutrients available in the soil.
Essentially, we are training the plant to do nothing but absorb nutrients and grow, instead of allowing it to naturally enter into symbiotic relationships with the soil the microbial life that surrounds it. If fertilizer use is suddenly halted and the source of nutrients is removed, the plant will not be capable of then finding those nutrients on its own and will stop growing. As researcher Rick Haney puts it: “It’s true that we are seeing that our yields have come up a lot in the last 50 years, but it is taking more and more external inputs to keep it going. And that’s not sustainable, it’s not going to work in the long run” (1).
Soil that has adequate structure to support crops requires a diverse biology of organisms to be present within it; this structure is compromised when we use inputs that mimic the nutrients naturally created by these organisms. In addition to the sand, silt and clay present in soil – it also needs a good portion of organic matter that the bacteria, fungi and other organisms can break down into plant-available nutrients. Before the “Green Revolution” soil was rich in humus with 7-12% organic matter. After many cumulated years of heavy fertilizing, a grower today is lucky if organic matter in their soil is anywhere near 2%. The presence of this organic matter is what creates that symbiotic relationship mentioned earlier, where the energy exchange between plants and soil is mutual and both rely on the other to thrive.
Fertilizer bypasses this mutual exchange, which has a direct impact on the biology contained in the soil and changes the nature and structure of the soil system as whole, leaving it imbalanced. Especially when used consistently, fertilizer tends to “alter soil aggregate stability, water retention capacity, infiltration rate, porosity, hydraulic conductivity and bulk density” (2). These changes have lasting effects on the farm ecosystem, and are detrimental for soil fertility, meaning less productive crops over time.
Fertilizer can also directly contribute to major changes in the PH of soil, resulting in an increase in acids such as sulfuric and hydrochloric acid. These harsh acids provide a less-hospitable environment for the beneficial bugs and microbes that are essential to the soil food web, resulting in the soil being more compact, which reduces drainage capabilities and air circulation. A decrease in the amount of beneficial organisms also creates a greater chance that the detrimental organisms will take over, ultimately removing any line of defense against the damage they can cause.
The issue of compacted soil stretches beyond the poor health of the plants growing within it. As fertilizer is water soluble for plants to easily absorb the nutrients it provides, these compounds are easily washed away when the soil does not have enough structure to retain them. The excess nitrogen that is leached into our waterways can have devastating effects on underwater vegetation and animal life. The increased salt content of the water results in algae blooms, which snowball into wells and aquifers not being properly replenished, reducing our global supply of clean water. The runoff nitrogen can also cause emissions of nitrous oxide, which “stays in the atmosphere for over 100 years, depletes the ozone layer, and is about 300 times more potent than CO2 in heating the atmosphere” (3).
While regenerative farming movements seek to highlight the importance of sequestering carbon in the ground as much as possible, conventional farming’s use of excess nitrogen derived from synthetic sources can be counterproductive to this goal. Not only because potential emissions from nitrogen are more harmful than carbon, but adding nitrogen creates an imbalance in the soil eco-system:
“The problem is that when microbes have a high nitrogen supply, they also have a high demand for carbon as an energy source” says Professor Richard Mulvaney, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. “With high nitrogen rates their demand may exceed the carbon supply in residues, which may cause them to attack stable organic matter. And therein lies the long-term problem.” (4)
Not only is this imbalance contributing to higher emissions, but the myriad of problems associated with fertilizer dependence leads to an increased need for other harmful inputs such as pesticides and herbicides. As we know, these chemical products can have a negative impact not only on the farmers that are spraying them, but on anyone who consumes the crops that are absorbing them.
Considering all the above, it becomes clear that reducing fertilizer use is something we need to strongly consider. That being said, the challenges farmers face today with a changing climate, soil degradation and compounded years of questionable practices have left us with minimal options. Adding in sustainable and regenerative practices like cover-cropping, integrated pest management and no-till farming methods can definitely help – but how do we quickly and sustainably bring nutrients and beneficial organisms back to a dying soil, to ensure it is able to produce healthy crops for years to come?
Humic Land™ is an organic soil amendment, sustainably sourced from peat, that contains a combination of Humic and Fulvic Acids. These compounds are absolutely essential for restoring health to the soil in a way that does not harm the farmer, their land, or their crops. In fact, the way that Humic Land™ brings soil biology back into balance can actually improve crops over time, starting with an increasingly healthy root system that strengthens the plant. A stronger plant is more resistant to disease and pests, and able to withstand certain changes in climate more easily than a plant that has already been pushed beyond its limitations.
Moreover, the way that Humic Land™ promotes microbial activity helps to elevate the symbiotic relationships in the soil, building the soil structure and giving plants more access to nutrients. Not only do the nutrients become more plant-available because of the soil biology, but the chelation effect offered by Humic Land™ means they stay where they are needed and are not easily washed away. This retention of moisture in the soil relieves drought stress and reduces overall watering needs on your farm. Essentially, Humic Land™ feeds the soil microbiome while creating a favorable environment for them to thrive, contributing to a balanced soil food web.
Since Humic Land™ is an organic solution containing no synthetic chemicals or ingredients, it is safe to use both for the farmer and for anyone who consumes their crops. When used in conjunction with other sustainable practices, it greatly contributes to restoring health to the soil and reducing the need for other inputs. It truly is a key component toward a holistic approach in the overall health of your farm, and a solution to consider when making the shift toward a more sustainable approach for the future of farming.
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Thankfully, there are simple ways to encourage pollinators to visit our gardens like planting native flowers and allowing even a small portion of our garden to go “wild”. In fact, more and more cities are getting on board with encouraging pollinator population growth by introducing bylaws and incentives that help protect them.
Simply put, pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of a plant (anther) to the female part of the plant (stigma) in order to fertilize and produce viable seeds. Pollination happens most often within the same species of plants and is a pivotal aspect of horticulture and agriculture because it is required for plants to produce fruits or vegetables.
There are two main types of pollination and while they can each be clearly defined, they often work together in the general ecosystem of a farm or garden in order to produce the optimum environment for plants to thrive. The two methods are Abiotic and Biotic.
Abiotic – this method of pollination involves non-living elements to move pollen such as wind, rain or water. Typically the plants that rely on this method of pollination do not have brightly colored flowers with any particular odor or even nectar to attract insects. Some of the major food crops such as wheat, rice, corn and rye are pollinated by this method.
Many flowers that are considered weeds, such a dandelions, are also abiotically pollinated. Remember how much fun you would have as a child blowing all the tiny white puffy seeds off a dandelion head and watching them float away all around you? Imagine your parents’ frustration when 2-3 weeks later, the front lawn and surrounding area was completely covered with new dandelions popping up! Little did you know, you played an important part in helping those dandelions grow.
Biotic – more common than abiotic, this method of pollination involves help from living organisms to carry the pollen from plant to plant. We typically think of bees as the main family of pollinators, but they are only a small portion of the pollinator collective. Other insects like butterflies, beetles, flies, wasps moths and ants (among many more) are big contributors to pollination.
In fact, there are somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000 species of animals that act as pollinators of the world’s 250,000 species of flowering plants. (1) Birds, bats and other small rodents also play a big role in this important process.
Many plants have evolved in ways to attract pollinators, either by scent or by vibrant colors – drawing the pollinators to them to help with the process. For example, plants that are typically pollinated by bats or moths have white petals and strong scented flowers that bloom only at night, so that they can draw in these nocturnal creatures.
Pollen itself is dry and powdery – it has been dehydrated naturally in order for it to be more easily moved either by abiotic or biotic pollination method. Once the pollen is transferred to the stigma of a plant it becomes rehydrated and begins to form a tube down the style of the plant, which carries a male gamete (reproductive cell) down to meet a female gamete in the ovule. As these cells fuse together, fertilization occurs and they form a seed. After the seed is formed, a fruit or flower will grow which will protect the seed.
Pollination is actually a year-round process, and plants have evolved in such a way to flower at different times of the year so that there is always a source of pollen for insects and animals. Pollinators are most active in spring and summer, reaching their peak in the long sunny summer days where their population grows to its highest levels.
In fall, they prepare for a long winter ahead by stocking up on pollen from late-blooming flowers before entering hibernation. Winter may seem quiet and like there is no activity, but the pollinators are hiding and resting among the decomposing plants and flowers in your garden – which is why it is important to leave the garden clean up for the spring, giving them a place to shelter over winter.
Bees
Did you know that the buzz of a bee is actually a tool they use to help them with pollination? Their signature buzz creates a vibration that helps to release pollen from a flower more easily, so they can store it in their hind legs which have little pockets called corbicula.
Bees can also communicate with one another to direct each other to new flower patches and foraging areas. They do this by way of a “dance” that tells the other bees which direction and how far the patch is.
Pollen acts as fuel for bees, proving necessary protein and nutrients for them to grow and reproduce. They typically visit a wide variety of flowers and are not specific to any particular species. However, they prefer to stick to one species of flower at a time when they venture out of the hive for a pollinating excursion. This works well for cross-pollination within the same flower species. The bees also collect nectar, which is a mixture of water and sugars provided by the plant to nourish and treat the bees that visit (you can think of it as the plant’s way to thank the bees for their help).
Butterflies
Although not as effective as bees, butterflies still account for a good portion of insect pollination. They tend to visit larger, flat flowers that have a surface area on which they can land, and they do most of their pollen-collecting during the day in flower patches that grow in large colorful clusters.
Butterflies have a long thin tongue called a proboscis – enabling them to reach down the narrow throat of a flared-petal flower and retrieve the nectar. Butterflies can travel incredible distances during their life cycle – sometimes spanning thousands of miles as the climate changes over the seasons, to always stay in an area that is conducive to retrieving the pollen they require.
One crop that depends heavily on butterflies, instead of bees, is cotton. It is estimated that butterflies add about $120 million per year to cotton harvests in Texas alone. (2)
Beetles
Perhaps the oldest group of pollinators on this planet, beetles have been around far longer than both bees and butterflies. Recorded beetle fossils show that they lived among the dinosaurs nearly 200 million years ago and likely played a role in pollinating prehistoric vegetation such as cycads. (3) To this day, they help to pollinate certain types of ancient plant species that still thrive in our modern world, among other more recently evolved plants.
Beetles tend to pollinate strong-scented plants with a cup-shaped flower with sturdy, thick petals and leaves. The plants that rely on them have evolved this way due to the beetle’s nature to leave a bit of a mess wherever they go – indulging on plant leaves and petals in addition to the pollen they need for nourishment. They tend to pollinate flowers that produce a good amount of pollen as there must be some leftover from their feeding to be transported to the next flower.
When beetles are not pollinating flowers, they prefer to be down in the soil – this is where they pupate and shelter from the elements. They can contribute to the soil health of your garden by digging tunnels which create aeration and by producing fertilizer as they feed on organisms in the soil.
As mentioned earlier, staple food crops in agriculture are typically self-pollinating or are pollinated by the wind. For many other crops, farmers rely on insects for pollination and must be careful to preserve the ecosystem of their farm to encourage beneficial bug populations to thrive. Unfortunately, pesticide use and monocropping have had a severe detrimental effect on the pollinator population in most regions that rely heavily on these farming methods.
Pollination Management is an important part of agriculture as it has been implemented to protect the pollinators and increase their population and migration. Honeybees and other species are raised and protected specifically for their role in pollination.
Things farmers can do:
Bees in particular are absolutely indispensable to the agriculture industry, as they add about $15 billion in crop value. (4) With the onset of a widespread bacterial disease called American foulbrood, huge populations of bees are unfortunately being destroyed. This disease is caused by bacteria that forms spores that destroy bees at the larval and pupal stages of development and can easily spread across multiple colonies if not controlled early on. While there are solutions being created, such as available antibiotics and pollination conservation agencies, these problems still pose a risk to bee population.
In our own gardens, we can also be mindful of protecting pollinator populations by choosing native flowers and allowing some parts of our garden or property to go “wild”. Some people leave a dedicated patch on their front or back lawns, that they do not maintain or keep trimmed down – encouraging pollinators to visit and thrive, benefitting their vegetable garden as an added bonus.
Keeping vegetable plants and flower in the garden over winter can provide important shelter and nutrients for pollinators. Be sure to only start spring clean-up after the ground has warmed enough for the pollinators to re-emerge, so to avoid destroying their hibernation habitat while they are still laying dormant in it.
As your garden grows, be sure there is water and shelter available for pollinators and avoid using chemical fertilizers or pesticides on your home garden. Using organic soil amendments like Kaytonik encourages healthy soil and leads to better plant growth while reducing the need for chemical additives.
Familiarize yourself with organizations that are educating and bringing awareness to declining pollinator populations, such as BeeCity (Canada and USA). Partnering with North American cities and eco-minded organizations across both nations, this program gives information and incentives that encourage the protection of pollinators in our cities. Supporting them and their sponsors is a great way to contribute to this important initiative and become part of the solution to a widespread problem that affects us all.
Cited Sources
Other Sources:
The Why, What, When, Where, Who, How of Pollination (https://gardens.si.edu/gardens/pollinator-garden/why-what-when-where-who-how-pollination/)
Pollination (https://www.canr.msu.edu/nativeplants/pollination/)
Butterfly Pollination (https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/butterflies.shtml)
Helping Agriculture's Helpful Honey Bees (https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/helping-agricultures-helpful-honey-bees)
]]>Some fungi cause plant disease, such as powdery mildew or fusarium rot. Using a fungicide to control these diseases temporarily sets the pathogenic fungi back. But fungicides take care of the disease-causing organisms while also poisoning beneficial fungi. Most fungi are beneficial to plant health.
In the plant root zone, the rhizosphere, mycorrhizal fungi create symbiotic relationships with plant roots. Over 90% of plant species have, over eons, evolved these beneficial relationships. Fungi develop long strands of cells strung together, called hyphae, that extend far beyond the plant root zone. The hyphae deliver nutrients and water back to the plant and in exchange the plant gives sugars to the fungi. A strong fungal relationship is one aspect of a diverse soil biology that protects plants from insects and disease. A diversity of beneficial soil biology leaves little space for pathogens to create issues.
When fungicides are used to control fungal diseases, the beneficial fungi in the root zone are also affected. Studies show when fungicides are used there is a marked decrease in mycorrhizal fungi. (1) That decrease indirectly affects the entire soil biota and the availability of nutrients to plants. Even when a foliar spray of fungicide is used, soil fungi will still decrease. For a foliar fungicide to be effective it must be sprayed until it drips, which means it will inevitably impact the soil biology.
Fungicides may not kill bacteria, but they do create a less hospitable environment because they cause a decrease in soil biodiversity. The term “pesticide” is used more generically to include chemicals that kill insect pests as well as fungal and bacterial pathogens. When any part of a well-functioning soil food web is disturbed, it affects the entire soil community.
Our bodies are subject to the same types of microbial activity, although with different species than those found in soil. Humans have evolved numerous methods to slow pathogen entry into our bodies. Mucous membranes secrete antimicrobial fluids, our skin is a barrier unless punctured, and the microbiome in our gut detects and removes pathogens. These all work well to ward off disease unless our body or immune system is somehow compromised. (2)
One way our body can be weakened is by using an antibiotic to speed the healing process. There are many reasons to use antibiotics, but there are many situations when they may not do any good. Frequent use can lead to antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microbes.
In our body, an antibiotic such as Penicillin may take care of an infection, but it would also potentially destroy many beneficial microorganisms, especially in our gut microbiome. In many ways antibiotics are the same as pesticides. They take out both disease-causing microorganisms and weaken or destroy beneficial microbes.
Penicillin is an antibiotic that has been synthesized from the natural fungal penicillium. In soil, billions of microorganisms are jockeying for nutrients and especially for a place on plant root cells. Fungi have developed chemical defenses against pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Bacteria and viruses in the soil are constantly at war. Bacteria have developed ways to restrict virus infection and to capture a part of the virus, which keeps it from completing its life cycle. (3)
In healthy soil with lots of organic matter there are billions of beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. Spraying a pesticide disrupts the balance, kills or weakens beneficial microbes, and gives pathogens an opportunity to gain nutrients. With an imbalance the odds are in favor of increased pathogens because pesticide resistance is becoming common.
When disease appears again, more spraying is done, more beneficial microorganisms die, more room is created for pathogens. Chemical use as a control of disease and pests can ultimately create more problems, which nature can solve if we have just a bit of patience.
If you happen to see a few aphids on your rose bush, you have a few options to control them. You may be tempted at first to use a chemical spray, but you may be creating more problems than you would potentially solve. What you may need is simply patience combined with some close observation.
This requires taking a holistic view of your garden and the ecosystem surrounding it. It involves waiting and watching to see which predatory insects first find those aphids. Will it be ladybugs, lacewings, or parasitic wasps? Aphids and most soft bodied insects have numerous predators. Creating the proper habitat for biological control of aphids will make gardening so much more pleasant and productive.
Beneficial insect habitat will vary depending on where you are located. Insects evolve with the native plants that give them pollen, nectar, and a place to lay their eggs. Planting some native plants in your flower beds and around the edges of your vegetable garden will allow these beneficial bugs to be close by, so they can snag those aphids and other pests like tomato hornworms (or their eggs). There are very good reasons to plant many different plant species together. Some of them will attract beneficials, some will repel pests, and all of them will increase soil biodiversity, which is the ultimate goal.
If you can learn to accept a few weeds and a bit of insect damage, your reward will be an expanse of garden biodiversity both above and below ground. Many insects spend a part of their lives in the soil. They add to the biodiversity of fungi, bacteria, nematodes, earthworms, and many other soil organisms.
Those soil organisms need organic matter and break it down for nutrients. Bacteria and fungi are superior decomposers of organic matter. They are prey for larger soil biology such as nematodes and protozoa. Bacteria need more nutrients than their predators. When a protozoan, for example, consumes a bacterium it releases nutrients it doesn’t need into the plant root zone. Those nutrients are then taken up by plants.
Mulching with leaves, straw, compost, and other organic materials keeps weeds down and feeds your soil biology. Wood chips also keep down weeds and are a valuable source of soil nutrients. Wood chips are coarser than compost or most other organic materials. If you lift up a bit of wood chip mulch you will find long white threads. Those are fungal mycelium, bunches of fungal hyphae grouped together. They are decomposing that wood, depositing carbon in the soil, and creating an environment hospitable to a diversity of soil biology.
But not all wood chips or mulch are created equal. Clippings from the deciduous shrubs and trees you’ve just pruned are the best for your garden. They’re referred to as ramial wood chips and when they’re chopped up a bit are a feast for soil biology. (4) They’re softer than larger diameter pieces of wood and decompose faster.
When buying wood chips or mulch remember they are a food source for your soil biology. Just like you don’t want a bunch of additives in your food, neither does your soil biology. Wood chips need to be untreated and undyed. Hardwood and softwood mulches come in different particle sizes, the smaller the particles the faster they decompose.
Hint: If mulch made from any organic material isn’t decomposing that’s a sign you don’t have a healthy soil microbiome. Take a look at your gardening practices. Are you using a lot of pesticides or fertilizers? Mulch is an effective pesticide by creating a hospitable environment for beneficial insects. It also acts as a slow-release natural fertilizer, releasing nutrients to the soil and your plants through the actions of soil biology.
The only wood that doesn’t benefit your soil biology is cedar. It’s both antimicrobial and antifungal. And for those reasons it lasts a long time as mulch but repels beneficial insects and soil biology. Not exactly the best choice to improve your garden soil.
The first line of defense in avoiding plant problems is to work with nature. Soil contains billions of living organisms which protect plants from disease and pathogens. Those organisms create a complete soil food web which expands to include frogs, toads, birds, and other vertebrates – including humans. Plants also play an active role in creating biodiversity.
Next time you’re in the garden and see an insect, take a picture. Wait a few days and see which predator takes care of it. Identify the insect; it might be one of the predators or predator larvae. Aren’t you glad you didn’t kill it?
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is allowing beneficial insects to help you control pests in the garden. Leave the spider and its web, you’ll see how beneficial it is by how many insects are caught in the web.
A riot of aboveground diversity in your garden creates a diversity of soil biology. One way to create that diversity is through companion planting. You’ll enjoy a greater diversity of foods and feed a more diverse soil biology. Look at your garden as part of a larger ecosystem. That lets you see how lawn fertilizer may affect your garden and how mulching your garden benefits your lawn.
If you’re growing in raised beds make sure the soil you’re adding is high quality. Mix in good compost or water with compost tea. Mulching a raised bed will help retain moisture and keep the soil cool.
Watering in a natural soil amendment, such as Kaytonik, allows you to feed your soil biology safely. There are no chemicals and it’s safe for children and pets. Your crops will benefit from the enhanced soil biology and you’ll eat nutrient dense food.
The adage “you are what you eat” is true. Looking at the larger ecosystem that adage includes the entire soil food web. That healthy ecosystem includes a healthy you.
Fungi are all of these and more. Fungi are microscopic; morels are the fruiting bodies of a much larger body of cells. The white strands under that dead log are masses of fungal hyphae called mycelia. Penicillium is a life saver. Yet bad fungi cause, on average, a 16% loss/year of agricultural production worldwide. (1) It’s no wonder you think of the bad fungi first!
A tablespoon of healthy soil has 50 billion microorganisms. The mycologist David Hawksworth, states that “…the magnitude of fungal diversity was estimated ‘conservatively’ at 1.5 million species.” (2) Healthy soil is home to approximately 25,000 species of fungi; others are aquatic, some live in the guts of mammals, and some are leaf dwellers. But no matter where they are they are predominately good fungi. Without them, we couldn’t grow any crops or digest our food.
Most soil fungi are good and help plants with nutrient and water uptake and protect plants from disease. Healthy soil also has bad, or disease causing, fungi but with good soil management they are kept in check by the good fungi, with help from beneficial bacteria, nematodes and other soil dwellers.
There are 3 categories of fungi that live in soil.
The decomposers (or saprophytic fungi) turn organic matter into organic acids, fungal biomass, carbon dioxide, and plant-available nutrients. Decomposers can be found in many places besides your soil; in your compost bin, wood chip pile, on the forgotten yogurt in your refrigerator, or in a pile of dead leaves. They prefer dark, moist environments and, because they’re microscopic, only their reproductive organs (or mushrooms) are usually visible. When you turn a pile of leaves, you’ll notice the bottom layers have white strands running through them. Those are mycelium, or masses of fungal hyphae. One fungal hypha is invisible to the naked eye, but when you’re seeing mycelium it’s comparable to the difference between an outhouse in rural Kansas and the mass of housing units in New York City.
Fungi decompose all organic matter through the use of enzymes:
"Fungi eat by secreting enzymes out of the tips of their hyphae. Instead of engulfing food like an amoeba or ingesting and digesting it like an animal, they dump enzymes onto food itself and after it breaks down into smaller molecules, they suck it back up through their hyphae." (3)
The nutrients that are not needed by the fungi for growth are released into the soil and used by plants and other microorganisms. Decomposer fungi are responsible for plant-available nitrogen, phosphorus, and many trace minerals needed for strong growth.
The mutualists have a cellular relationship with plants. They bring nutrients and water to plants in exchange for carbon in the form of plant root exudates. Mutualists come in two distinct forms; ectomycorrhizal or endomycorrhizal.
Ectomycorrhizal fungi grow on the surface of roots. They extend the area available for nutrient and water uptake through their extensive hyphal network. They’re often associated with trees.
Endomycorrhizal fungi penetrate the plant root and extend their hyphal network into the soil. (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi) are a type of endomycorrhiza. They are able to supply the plant root directly with nutrients and water.
The pathogenic or parasitic fungi are what we usually think of when we say the word "fungus." They include Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Verticillium and others. These fungi cause root rot, root and crown rot in shrubs, damping off in seedlings, sunken spots in plant leaves, cavity spot, numerous rusts, the list goes on. Most plant diseases are caused by pathogenic fungi, yet fewer than 10% of all known fungi colonize plants.(4)
These are the fungi scientists have studied the most because they affect our food supply. But they are not the majority of fungi in healthy soil. Beneficial fungi such as the mutualists and decomposers are found in soil alongside pathogenic fungi. They protect plants from diseases caused by pathogens as well as supplying the host plant with nutrients and water.
In a forest where the soil isn’t disturbed, the good fungi will almost always win the battle. But in a farm field that’s tilled every year and synthetic chemicals applied, the fight may not be fair. That’s because the hyphae, of both good and bad fungi, are destroyed by conventional farming practices such as tillage. In a study conducted by Dipak Sharma-Poudyal, et al
"…results suggest that taxa more common in conventionally tilled systems can utilize fresh, mature plant residues that are turned into the soil with tillage as pioneer colonizers, and then produce large numbers of conidia that are not as affected by tillage as the mycelial life stage." (5)
Fungi can survive for long periods in the conidia stage, waiting for the proper conditions to develop hyphae. Conidia of pathogenic fungi continue to infect crops. Because of those infections, conventional practices suggests you have to spray more fungicides, which decreases the fungal diversity. Plants become vulnerable to disease by fungi that have become resistant to your fungicides.
Botrytis and many mildews are resistant to almost all fungicides. The more chemicals sprayed on the fields the less diverse the microbial community. Lower diversity increases the prevalence of pathogenic fungi. It’s a vicious cycle.
Using regenerative practices creates a better balance of microorganisms in your soil, and on your plants. No-till farming systems create a greater diversity of microbial species so both good and bad fungi can co-exist. Using no-till and decreasing synthetics allows beneficial fungi to gain the upper hand. They use their protective mechanisms to keep pathogenic fungi away from your crops.
Even bad fungi have been proven to have benefits as insect parasites, creating hollows in dead trees for animal nesting, and trapping disease causing nematodes. There are so many species of fungi, and most have not been studied, that it’s sometimes difficult to determine the good from the bad.
Beneficial fungi will "…form protective webs and nets, often in conjunction with bacteria, around roots (and even on leaf surfaces, as leaves produce exudates that attract bacteria and fungi as well…)" to protect the host plant. (6) When beneficial fungi are given a chance to populate an area, they protect the host plant (their food source) in many ways. They not only supply nutrients and water to plants but also secrete enzymes that attack pathogenic fungi.
The mutualist fungi, including AMF, create conditions that are inhospitable for pathogenic fungi. Soils that have a large diversity of microorganisms, including fungi, have been shown to suppress fungal diseases. Good fungi can out-compete bad fungi for nutrients, essentially starving them.
Good fungi and bad fungi will always be around. The key is to keep them in balance. If your farming practices take into consideration all the benefits of fungi you will find nature will help you.
Conventional farming practices decrease good fungi while attempting to prevent plant disease by bad fungi. Spraying fungicides and tilling in crop residue creates an environment more hospitable to bad fungi.
Good fungi need living plants to thrive, bad fungi are happy with the dead organic matter you tilled into the soil. Just under the surface in that field you’re leaving fallow all winter are bad fungi feasting. Decreasing tillage, not using fungicides or fertilizers, and using cover crops to feed your fungal allies will make a huge difference in the prevention of disease in your fields. It’s always easier to prevent disease than to try to bring back a diseased crop.
While we have likely already begun harvesting some of the early-blooming plants, there is still time to make any necessary adjustments to ensure our success continues, and we can set ourselves up for an abundant end to the season.
The weather can vary greatly in summer months depending on what region you are in – some regions are feeling the heat while others may be getting some refreshing summer showers and added humidity. Bugs can be out in full force with changing weather patterns, and so this is also a good time to take a closer look at your garden foliage to make sure any pests are not enjoying your vegetables before you even have a chance to.
Pests can be controlled with a little patience – observation and adjustments, instead of immediately resorting the chemical pesticides. Keep in mind that your garden is its own little ecosystem, that is home to different predators and prey. A good balance of beneficial bugs will help keep the more harmful ones under control – and often-times this can be achieved by ensuring the good variety of native plants and flowers that will keep the ecosystem running smoothly.
By now the local wildlife have also probably realized you have a pretty good thing going on. In addition to finding shelter or nesting among your plants, they may be digging up parts of your garden to feed their own furry or feathered families, much to your own frustration. If animals are getting into your garden and causing issues, consider adding a garden netting system or an electronic sound frequency emitter with a motion detector that will deter them from coming too close.
If you are on a tight budget – you can also purchase plastic (but realistic-looking) toy snakes from the dollar store and display them among your plants. This quirky technique works well for some gardeners that I know, and it can also provide some entertainment when a new human visitor walks through your garden and gets a startle.
If you have not been diligent about weeding, some of your garden plots may begin to look more like micro jungles, creating competition for nutrients in the soil and putting a strain on healthy root systems. With weeding, the longer you let it go, the more difficult it is to do without causing damage – so this is probably something you want to pay attention to sooner than later.
A bit at a time is the way to go, so that the situation does not get out of hand over the course of the summer. You can also experiment with spreading mulch between your flowers and veggies, to help snuff out weeds before they even have a chance to take root. Weeds such as dandelion and stinging nettle can be put aside and used in the kitchen. They contain lots of nutrients and antioxidants – so don’t be so quick to toss them during your weeding sessions!
Another way to clean up a garden that has gotten a bit overgrown, is by deadheading any flowers that may be spent. This will encourage more flowers to bloom on the same plant and give your garden a refreshed look. You can also prune your herbs to encourage bushier growth and prevent them from getting too spindly. In particular, if your basil is beginning to flower, be sure to prune just under the flowers to give some new life to the plant and allow it to fill out more. Throw the excess cuttings into the compost bin to lock in all those useful nutrients for later use as a rich homemade compost.
While the garden may have already blessed you with some bountiful gifts, it is important to assess its needs also and offer it some help if needed to ensure continued success. If you notice some plants growing slowly or starting to turn out yellowed foliage at the base – it may be time to focus on some soil amendments to give those plants a boost. Compost tea is a great low-cost way of sneaking in some nutrients during the growing season, without having to actually add more compost to your garden.
You can also use organic soil amendments like Kaytonik to increase microbial activity which will strengthen the plant and its roots. This amendment can also balance soil pH, while building its capacity to retain moisture which reduces watering needs, especially in sandy soil. Giving your garden a nutrient-boost halfway through the season can increase your end of season harvests and help to build the health of the soil for next growing season.
Some of your earlier harvests may be over and done with by now, and you may even find yourself with some empty spaces that can be filled anew. Perhaps those quick-growing carrots and radishes have already been pulled and enjoyed in colorful summer salads. Or maybe that cucumber plant you had such high hopes for just didn’t make it this year and is now taking up useful space but not offering any return.
There are a number of crops that can be planted in mid-summer for a late fall harvest – so this is a great time to get out to your local nursery and pick up a new batch of seeds. Brussel sprouts, beets, leeks and turnip are all great choices for getting a head start on a plentiful fall harvest. You can also do a second planting of carrots, radish, kale or lettuce. Keep in mind the basics of companion planting to get the most out of the space you have, to improve soil health and keep pests at bay.
Getting out in the garden for a good assessment halfway through the growing season allows you to make changes that can positively impact your final harvest, as well as get a head start on next year’s garden by troubleshooting any issues before it is too late. Whatever adjustments you make during this time should be noted down to help with future garden planning, and to avoid repeating any potential mistakes.
Remember that gardening is an ongoing learning process – even for those of us that have a fair amount of experience. In the end, what you get out of your garden will be a result of how much time and energy you choose to pour into it. Happy Gardening!
]]>We participate in an on-going soil to gut microbial exchange every day. To make this exchange the most robust, there has to be strong microbial diversity in the soil and in the gut.
Getting nutrients into our bodies is very simple – we eat. It is the processes involved with getting the nutrients into the foods that are complex. Processes that are the result of a symbiotic relationship of soil microorganisms and plant roots. So, to get the most nutritional value into food there needs to be a microbial community to break down organic matter into molecular forms of nutrients that are plant available.
The human gut microbiome, responsible for digesting those nutrients, must also be diverse to be the most efficient. Each individual has a signature microbial community, unique as a fingerprint. The microbes on (and in) our food contribute to our gut microbiota, even if they are only there for a short time. The human and soil microbiomes have similar bacteria phyla; Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. (1) Which only makes sense because our food is grown in soil.
Both root and gut microbes synthesize essential amino acids. Beneficial soil microbes in and on both the roots and shoots of plants increase plant resistance from herbivores, pest insects, and pathogens. They also increase nutrient use efficiency in the fruits and seeds, creating higher nutrient profiles.
Human gut microbes break down our food into constituent nutritional molecules which are used for myriad purposes, including a stronger immune system. But our gut microbiome has only 10% of the diversity of the soil, (2) and is getting less diverse over time as our modern diet leans toward processed and fatty foods.
Agriculture also plays a role in human gut microbiome decline. High yielding crop varieties have lost many secondary metabolites that protect human and plant health. (3) Even crops grown through organic farming have less nutritional value than they did ten years ago because we are breeding for shelf life and shipping ease, not nutrition. As a result, we are losing a number of immunosuppressants, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties of foods.
While non-processed food is still full of nutrients, sometimes even fresh produce can contain substances that are detrimental to our health.
When herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides are sprayed on crops - pests and disease organisms are destroyed. Unfortunately, this means that the soil microbiome is also destroyed. Furthermore, the impact of chemical residue reaches much further than the soil and plants. It also impacts the gut microbiomes of those who eat the plants, both humans and animals alike.
Many farmers in the Midwestern US use a crop rotation of 2 crops, corn and soybeans. That means there are only 2 types of plant roots in those fields, which is not enough to create the microbial diversity necessary for healthy food. Often these two crops are grown conventionally and numerous passes are made over the field with fertilizers and synthetic pest and disease killers (pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides – called the “ides”). Those “ides” may take care of pests but they also weaken and eventually destroy the soil microbiome.
Synthetic pesticides are antibiotics, and they are sprayed onto crop fields multiple times throughout the growing season. No matter how much we scrub store bought fruits and vegetables they will retain residual pesticides.
Antibiotics are naturally found in the soil. (4) They are produced by bacteria, fungi, and as defense against other microorganisms. The amount of antibiotic produced by microorganisms is not even measurable against the amount of antibiotics sprayed on a field with conventional “ides.”
In an orchard, synthetics are sprayed in early spring before bud break, at fruit set, and in 14-day intervals. The residual chemicals on the exterior of a fruit may be washed off but what about the chemicals that are inside the fruit? Fruit does not have an impermeable skin and some synthetic pesticides are even formulated to be absorbed by the flesh for pest control. (5)
The USDA tests fruits and vegetables for pesticide residue. The Environmental Working Group publishes a list of the "Dirty Dozen." Fruits and vegetables with the most pesticide residue.
The impact of those residues on our gut microbiome is similar to their impact on the soil microbiome. The EPA sets tolerances for potential chemical residues on fruits and vegetables. According to the USDA the yearly report of fruit and vegetable testing showed…
“…that nearly 99 percent of almost 10,000 samples of fresh, frozen and processed foods had pesticide residues below levels set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).” (6)
Although the amount of residue we ingest at any given time may be small, that amount of chemical was enough to kill the insect pest. How might it affect the microbes in our gut, which are microscopic?
How do we grow healthy food at a profit without “ides”? Organic farming is one answer. Another is regenerative farming.
Maintaining a diverse soil microbiome is necessary for growing healthy food. Regenerative farming’s principles support what traditional farmers around the world have always known. Farming with nature, instead of against her, includes these practices:
There is a great deal of evidence that a diverse soil microbiome is responsible for foods with a high nutritional profile. So, following regenerative agricultural practices makes sense for human gut health.
A rotation with many different plants, including cover crops between rows of cash crops, increases soil microorganisms. A diverse soil microbiome has a direct impact on plants. A strong microbial community deters pathogens in the soil and pests on leaves and fruit. Microbes are everywhere and either protect a plant by leaving no space for pathogens or signal the plant to activate its defenses against pathogens.
There is an ongoing battle between beneficial microorganisms and pathogens. In healthy soil the beneficials win. That same battle is taking place in the human gut microbiome.
Healthy soil leads to healthy food and healthy people. The nutrients in food are extracted by gut microbes. Humans need more than just the nutrients in food, we also need the microbes. Humans can only make 11 of the 20 essential nutrients, most of the rest we need to get from food.
In order to retain our health the food that we consume has to come from healthy soil. There is a direct correlation between the use of synthetics and a rise in chronic disease. (7) Our gut microbiome cannot operate efficiently when antibiotics and other pesticides are consumed. The microbes in our gut are compromised by “ides” and do not have the ability to support a strong immune system, which can result in us getting sick.
Most vitamins and nutrients come from the soil via plants and animals but there are some vitamins that are only made by microbes, Vitamin B12 for example. It is a vitamin only used for 2 enzymatic activities, but very important for human health. (8)
Vitamin B12 is not found everywhere. The meat and milk of ruminant animals (cattle) contains B12 because of the symbiotic relationship of the cow with bacteria and archaea. Vitamin B12 is also abundant in seafood because of the host – bacteria symbiotic relationship.
The symbiotic relationship between cattle and microbes is a lesson in microbial diversity and the value of certain species of bacteria for human health. Healthy soil with the right community of microorganisms maintains animal health and eventually the health of the human body.
Keeping “ides” or antibiotics out of our gut microbiome leads to healthy humans. The “ides” have been linked to a number of serious chronic human diseases.
The quality and quantity of the soil microbial community can be increased through natural soil amendments such as Humic Land, respecting the soil, and choosing food sources wisely. Dr. Daphne Miller advises a simple way to source food wisely. Buy local and ask; “Does the farmer live on the farm?” If so, you will be choosing food that is grown with care. (9)
This is very simplified. We’ll take a deep dive into each of these principles. We’ll explain them in depth and show how you can apply them to your own garden.
Soil erosion is a major issue with bare earth. Both wind and water move topsoil from your garden and deposit it on yours or a neighbor’s lawn. That might be good for the lawn but it decreases the fertility of your garden every time the winds blow or it rains.
The wind can make little “dirt devils” over your garden. What you are seeing is topsoil literally moving to a different location. When topsoil moves it’s not just the soil particles but microorganisms and nutrients attached to them. Keeping soil covered at all times reduces wind erosion.
Water erosion is more complicated than wind erosion. First, there’s the issue of runoff creating rills and valleys from your garden to adjacent land. Taking soil, nutrients, and microorganisms out of your garden. Second, there’s the damage caused by the impact of raindrops on the bare soil. A raindrop can hit the ground at a speed of 20 miles per hour. When it hits bare ground, it dislodges soil particles. Those particles can end up as far as 5 feet away. They end up clogging surface pores and affecting water infiltration. (1)
Of course, we need rain to grow crops. But when a 5-millimeter raindrop hits bare soil at a speed of 20 miles per hour it’s like a mini-meteorite. It dislodges some soil and compacts the soil left. When the soil dries the dislodged particles clog soil pore spaces and the site of raindrop impact is compacted. Both make a difficult environment for seeds to sprout.
When you leave last year’s crop residue and mulch on your garden raindrops hit those first. Organic material decreases the impact of spring rainfall on your soil and allows water to sink in instead of running off. Even the dead roots from last year’s tomato plants protect soil particles from being blown or washed away. Keeping nutrients and microorganisms in your soil.
The use of cover crops keeps the soil food web active and well fed while acting as soil cover, or soil armor. Keeping roots in the soil 365 days a year means you’ll always have a microbial community ready to decompose decaying organic material and convert it into nutrients for the next crop.
President Thomas Jefferson, over 200 years ago, knew the importance of plant diversity. He rotated his fields with vetch, peas, clover, and his heavy feeding tobacco. He knew if he continued planting only tobacco his soil quality would soon be exhausted. (2)
Of course, you’re not growing tobacco in your garden but there are a number of “heavy feeder” vegetables such as sweet corn and cabbages. Planting a legume such as peas or beans that capture nitrogen from the air next to your corn will benefit both. To find out how much different crops can benefit each other, check out this post on companion planting.
Thomas Jefferson also knew the importance of crop rotation. He had one cash crop, tobacco. But he grew 3 other crops from different plant families for a 4-year crop rotation. Those other crops served as a cover for the soil. He also saw that his plants thrived when he added compost to his gardens. He didn’t know what we know today about soil biology but he was feeding his soil microorganisms. (3)
The greater the diversity of plants in your garden the greater the diversity of soil microorganisms. There are three main ways microbial activity helps your plants grow disease and pest free.
The interrelationships between microbiology and plants are both chemical and physical. Microbial activity on all parts of a plant – from the tip of a leaf to the tip of the root – protects the plant from insects and pathogens. Beneficial soil microbes fuel the . The major nutrient cycles for plant available nutrients.
Compost adds organic matter loaded with nutrients. But plants can’t access the nutrients on their own. Macro-organisms like earthworms and beneficial insects are visible to the naked eye and start the decomposing process. Where there are macro-organisms there are also microorganisms.
The macros break up the chunks of organic material into smaller pieces. Then microorganisms can break the organic material down into the different nutrients. Plants need the nutrients in compost organic matter to be in a form that is accessible. Microorganisms are critical for the conversion of organic nutrients into inorganic forms for plant uptake.
The entire soil food web, from earthworms to one celled bacterium, is more effective if they’re not disturbed.
We have a tendency to think of soil disturbance as a plow in a field, but a rototiller is the same thing on a smaller scale. Rototilling your garden soil makes it look nice and creates a level surface for creating seed furrows. But it also destroys soil structure. Beneficial fungi are especially prone to destruction by tilling because they put out long one-celled strands, called hyphae, that hold the soil macroaggregates together which increase the nutrient and water available to your plants.
Beneficial microorganisms are busily decomposing any plant roots left in your garden. If you pull up those roots for compost, you are also pulling up and composting those microorganisms. It’s soil disturbance you may not have ever considered.
We’ve been taught that removing plant residue is necessary to control plant diseases. But let’s examine that idea further. Plant roots left in the soil are a source of carbon and other nutrients for microorganisms. When there is a diverse food source there will be a beneficial microorganism community filling the niches in the soil food web. There are always a few pathogenic microorganisms but, if the beneficials aren’t disturbed, they keep them in control.
Take your clippers to the garden in the spring and cut off the dead aboveground vegetation. That can go into your compost (as a brown, because it’s dead) but leave the roots in the ground. Remember, those dead plant roots are a major source of carbon and nutrients for your soil microbiology. Now you’re ready to plant using a no-till method.
A dibble (or dibbler) is a great tool for planting your garden, creating a limited disturbance of your soil. Never heard of one before? They come in all shapes and sizes. And if you’re handy you can make one in your workshop. This video explains the how and why of a dibble. (5) Enjoy!
You may hit a spot of old root when you’re dibbling your garden. Move the dibble a bit and you’ll be fine. That old root has a colony of beneficial microorganisms that will keep pathogens away from your sprouting seed.
But you’ll only have beneficial microorganisms if you use natural soil amendments. Synthetics kill and disrupt the soil food web. The use of synthetic fertilizers short circuits the plant/microorganism symbiotic relationship. That affects other members of the food chain. If there are fewer microorganisms there will be a decrease in earthworms and other macro-organisms that count on fungi and bacteria as a food source.
Spraying for pests and diseases is often counterproductive. Do you seem to have the same disease and pest issues every year? The use of synthetic fungicides, pesticides, and herbicides, along with synthetic fertilizers, creates an inhospitable environment for all soil biology, including all the beneficials. Soon you’ll have no soil biology at all. That means you have to supply all the nutrients for your plant’s survival.
Surviving and thriving are not the same. We can add the nutrients we know plants need but the unknown combinations of organic matter, microbes, and nutrients are missing. Your garden will survive with synthetics. Those pesky disease and pest issues you keep having? There aren’t any beneficial predators to take care of them. So, you spray again, it’s a vicious cycle. But it’s a cycle you can choose to stop.
Your garden will thrive when plant nutrients are available through biological activity. Add compost to your garden this year and be patient. Be sure and leave as much of the plant biomass of your crops as possible in the garden. Remember to leave roots in the ground. Plant some cover crops to increase the number of days you have living roots in the soil.
The synergies between all the components of soil are necessary for true soil health and for nutrient dense crops in your vegetable garden. Soil scientists learn more every day about the microbial inhabitants of healthy soil and their relationships to the plants above and below ground.
Your vegetable garden is an amazing place. Unlike a farm that may be growing only a few crops you’re planting a diversity of plants. Nurturing an environment that provides food and shelter for birds, beneficial insects, macro and microorganisms is key. Natural soil amendments will boost your soil biology. Kaytonik is a soil amendment that improves your soil for optimum plant growth.
Paying attention to soil health pays off in plants with higher nutritional value and less disease and pest damage. Watch as the earthworms come back, the predatory beneficial insects take out the pests, and disease doesn’t haunt your garden anymore. It’s all about the soil.
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2018 was the wettest spring in recent USA history. Many growers were unable to get into their fields in much of the country with only half of projected corn crops planted.
Yet in over 40% of the western USA extreme drought conditions make drylands growing impossible. Furthermore, water use for crop irrigation has become more of a political than an agricultural issue. At the Oregon/California border wild salmon populations were being destroyed by low river levels. In response to help minimize the fish depopulation the federal government cut off water destined to potato and alfalfa fields.
Water is a scarce, and costly, resource in almost all of the USA west of the Mississippi River. Growers continue to experience water discontinuances which affect the growing viability of the field. Letting a field go fallow and selling water rights is sometimes a solution, but not for the long-term. Without irrigation many crops grown in the USA will have to be imported. And the list is long. The quality and quantity of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and berries are dependent on water in the root zone.
There’s also the problem of degraded soil. Are you using more fertilizers every year? Are you tilling and leaving your fields bare for parts of the year? Those fertilizers are getting more costly every year, cutting into your bottom line. And it’s not just inputs that are eating at your profit, it’s also farm machinery, seeds, and fuel.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-08/fertilizer-index-soars-to-record-threatening-higher-food-prices
With the growing costs of inputs, the last thing any grower wants to deal with is nitrogen leaching. Due to higher costs of fertilizers, (and the trend doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon) the importance of preserving those inputs becomes even more crucial.
Couple extreme weather conditions with degraded soil from excessive tillage and synthetics use and you get poor crop productivity.
Besides the changing climate patterns, consumers are demanding higher quality food products. They’re expecting greater transparency from farm to fork, with fewer synthetic chemicals used in production.
These conditions are creating an urgency for growers to find a sustainable solution quickly or face becoming increasingly less profitable year after year. Are you facing these issues?
Of late, many growers are focused on treating the cause, rather than remedying symptoms. More and more growers are becoming aware of soil health and how much it impacts their operation. They are noticing the long-term benefits of incorporating those practices.
Healthy soil means more organic matter in your soil, more beneficial biology, better water retention, and improved soil structure.
Decreasing tillage and synthetic fertilizer, pesticide, and fungicide use addresses both soil health and consumers’ increasing demands for chemical-free foods. Improving soil health leads to improved crop health. Nutrient dense crops are possible when your plants have access to those nutrients and that is made possible by beneficial biology.
With healthy soil, extreme weather effects on your crop can be mitigated. You become less dependent on fertilizers and yields are higher. All of these put together means a better bottom line for you as the grower, while at the same time setting yourself up for more favorable growing conditions for later harvests.
You’ve been looking for ways to improve your soil health. You’ve probably spread manure on your fields, perhaps planted cover crops, and even used less tillage but haven’t seen any difference – except more weeds. Perhaps you’ve even used a humic acid product recommended by your fertilizer dealer, along with other amendments to get your pH in the 5.2-6.2 range. You saw a small increase but not enough to justify adding yet more amendments to your arsenal.
The Key Takeaway Here Is That…
Not all humic acids are made equal. The manufacturing process and the raw materials from which they originate can produce very different humic acids.
Humic acid gel is radically different from the liquid and powdered forms of humic acid you may have used in the past. Incorporating humic acid gel as a soil amendment has increased growers’ yields from 20% - 50% and decreased dependence on synthetic fertilizers; and in some cases, it helped reduce disease pressures.
Perhaps you’ve never used humic acid before and so your question is…
It’s a complex set of molecular structures that are formed through the chemical and biological break-down of plant and animal matter through the biological activities of microorganisms.
Until recently, only liquid and powdered forms of humic acid, mined from Lignite or Leonardite, were available. These humic acids are processed using either high heat or cold extraction made possible with the addition of salts to the Lignite. They’re energy intensive and leave gaping holes where they’ve been extracted. The liquid humic acid process uses chemicals in processing, specifically alkali, and the resulting products have chemical residue and are highly alkaline. Liquid humic acid has a pH ranging from 9 to 14 depending on how long the Lignite was heated and how much alkali was used.
The powdered humic acid is made from Lignite also but salts are added so the humic acid can be cold extracted. These are usually high in organic matter (not necessarily humic acid) and are highly acidic. The pH range for powdered humic acid is 1 to 4. Both powdered and liquid humic acids can have severe impacts on agricultural soil.
The sustainable harvesting of humus from peat bogs results in a holistic product that contains humic acid, fulvic acid, and native biology. No chemicals are used in the production of humic acid gel, only cavitation and fine grinding to create a water-soluble gel for ease of application. Humic acid gel, with the intact native biology, has many benefits for agricultural crops.
Because there is no chemical processing involved and water is the carrying agent, humic acid gel has a pH of 5.2-6.2, perfect for most plant growth. Humic acid gel is an organic product containing humic acid, fulvic acid, and native biology, which work holistically to allow for the release of nutrients when the plant needs it.
Adding humic acid gel to water decreases water surface tension and allows greater nutrient uptake. Fulvic acid is the smallest component of the humic acid gel and penetrates root and shoot surfaces carrying very potent payloads of nutrients for immediate use by the plant. This has a direct effect on plant metabolism, the rate of photosynthesis, and chlorophyll over an extended period of time.
Biology is critical for healthy soil and increased crop yields. Improving your soil biology positively impacts:
Humic acid gel improves soil structure (which reduces erosion) and water retention, increases nutrient uptake in plants, decreases leaching of nutrients (preserving your investments), and boosts microbial activity. These work holistically in conjunction, which ultimately lead to a better bottom line for the grower.
In most agricultural settings humic acid gel is applied 3 times during the growing season. It’s natural and has no chemical residues so it can be used up to harvest. It can also be used as a seed soak, in seedling media, or a foliar spray.
Seed soaking and soil application with humic acid gel improves N uptake, especially when N fertilizer rate is reduced. The combination of seed soaking and soil application of humic acid gel increased Nitrogen Uptake by 47% even when N fertilizer was reduced by 40% - Research on Humic Land™ effect on plant growth - McGill University 2021
Many growers, perhaps you, buy pretreated seeds. They may be pretreated with toxic chemicals and fertilizers. If you use humic acid gel in your farm management as a seed soak you won’t need those toxic seed treatments. Seeds treated with humic acid gel have been shown to have:
Additionally, when humic acid gel is applied to your soil, soil health is improved, giving the crop the ability to withstand drought as well as torrential rains. Some of the benefits you may notice from the progressive use of humic acid gel are:
It doesn’t take very much humic acid gel to make a big difference.
Your farm will benefit from healthier soil. Healthier soil will have a direct impact on both crop health and yields, while reducing input leaching. A simple way to look at it is:
Less Inputs + Humic Acid Gel = More Yields
Which means more money in your pocket.
In field trials a holistic humic acid gel improved the health and yield of orchard crops such as avocado and almond, specialty crops such as cilantro, pepper, and tomato, among others and field corn. Rigid field tests have been conducted to determine the effect of humic acid gel on crop growth, soil nutrients, and microbial activity.
Analyses have looked specifically at diversity of soil fungi, the fungi/bacteria ratio, root and shoot development, and plant yields. Every analysis showed a direct correlation between greater diversity of fungi, decreased pathogenic fungi, and improved crop yield.
Even when the fungal disease Phytophthora was already evident in an avocado orchard, humic acid gel was trialed. In the plots where only the humic acid gel was used the Phytophthora was suppressed. Where the grower used a fungicide and the humic acid gel, limited benefits were noticed. The humic acid gel plots increased the fungal biodiversity to 550µg while the fungicide/humic acid gel plots only had a biodiversity of 194µg. Visually the trees looked much healthier where the humic acid gel was applied. The Phytophthora was suppressed in the root zone without the necessity of a fungicide.
Humic acid gel was trialed in pepper fields in California where drought is a major issue. The result was greater above ground biomass which shaded fields thus retaining moisture, suppressing weeds, and resulting in less sunburn on fruit. In the pepper trial the soil with humic acid gel was 15% sandier than the adjacent control plot. Even so, there was a 20% increase in yield with the humic acid gel.
In cilantro trials, the below ground root mass has also been shown to be greater with humic acid gel because water is retained in the root zone and a greater diversity of microorganisms supply needed nutrients. This trial was duplicated several times over various sized blocks ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 acres. An average increase of 20% in yield was noted across all fields.
A trial in Florida using humic acid gel on tomato plants allowed the grower to reduce his nitrogen fertilizer application by over 50%. As the grower became acquainted with the benefits of using the soil amendment, he began carefully tracking the nutrient levels in the plant which allowed him to reduce nitrogen inputs with confidence. Two major factors enabled this. Firstly, increasing the soil retention capacity reduced the leaching of inputs therefore optimizing input use; secondly, the improved nutrient cycling taking place at the rhizosphere improved the nutrient availability to the plant.
The humic acid gel was used in cornfields in Iowa. An agricultural analysis firm was hired to test the fields throughout the growing season. They concluded that humic acid gel showed:
Improved crop yield starts with healthy soil. Incorporating humic acid gel into your irrigation system or as an amendment adds a wealth of beneficial biology and fulvic and humic acids.
Humic Land™ is the only gel formulation of humic acid on the market. It is sustainably harvested from peat with minimum soil disturbance. It is made available to growers through Rogitex, a 3rd generation family owned & operated company committed to a sustainable future. Humic Land™ contributes to soil health by incorporating humic acid, fulvic acid, and its native biology. With healthy soil our growers get:
We enjoy the great relationships we have with our growers and our favorite part of the day is seeing them get results. We are passionate about helping them get the maximum output from their operations, and create earth-friendly solutions that promote sustainable farming.
Incorporating Humic Land™ helps retain the valuable nutrients in the rhizosphere, where it’s needed most, securing investment and resources every grower works hard to provide their crop with. This means obtaining greater yields with less nitrogen.
With Humic Land™ costs go down and yields go up while building a sustainable future for our children and grand-children.
Boskovich Farms, inc. | Ventura county, CA
"Humic Land has proven to increase cilantro yields by 20% over 10 different fields. Cilantro root establishment is noticeably better. Cilantro stands with Humic Land are visibly more established."
-Bryson Daniel Farm Production Manager
4 Star Farms, inc. | Myakka City, FL
"I did 2 commercial trials with Humic Land in the spring of 2020. The first was on 15 acres of chip potato, Round White Atlantic was the variety. We chiseled Humic Land on either side of the seed. We saw an increase in yield and overall plant vigor in some real sandy soil."
-Brent Shackelford Branch Manager
A Farm in Coachella Valley, CA
"We were impressed with the results obtained with Humic Land for Coachella Valley Bell Pepper Trial."
-The Grower
Tomato Thyme | FL
"We started using Humic Land in early 2020. After several stages of integration and positive replicable results, Humic Land is now standard across our operations.
In addition to building our soil structure, Humic Land increases the plants' foliage without negatively affecting yields, reducing fruit sunburn. As a result, we have decreased our fertilizer cost while increasing our yields, optimizing fertilization, and improving revenue per acre."
-Greg Wilson Lead Grower
For more information on how Humic Land™ can increase your farm profits, contact us.
]]>I bet you feel like hopping a plane and going on a vacation right about now. Well, I’ll ask you, what does vacation mean to you? Does it signify peace and tranquility, the oneness of nature, the pleasure of escaping the responsibilities of your everyday city life? Maybe? Or maybe it’s just getting close to a cottage up in the hills, beside a lake with the family, to enjoy togetherness.
I think it’s this togetherness that we miss, though we’re seldom alone every day in city life. The point is together with whom, or with what? Nature! And our natural environment that produces the bounty to health.
Obligations and the burdens of our societal pressures aside, when did we start to lose this connection? Why, when we think of a break, we favor something that rejuvenates our senses, rests our weary body, and makes us feel good, like a tropical or country sojourn? The natural world beckons journey towards her.
In The Roots of Medicine, I emphasized the work of Daphne Miller a bit. In her book The Jungle Effect, she was motivated to help one of her patients, whom she referred to as Angela. A young overweight girl, who went to live close to her native land in Brazil, and by eating local food, such as fish soup, taro, beans, and fruit, successfully lost weight that she had tried to lose back in the USA and couldn’t. When she went to live in the city, she gained weight again from her place near the rainforest. Returning to America, her weight gain continues, despite all efforts at eating healthy and dieting sensibly.
This phenomenon triggered Daphne Miller to rise above the norm of your conventional physician to explore deeper. She volunteered in a small Peruvian village not far from the Amazon basin, which coincidentally was close to the village where Angela had stayed when she lost the weight. Here she observed that people from this section of the Amazon were not getting chronic illness. They did not suffer from diabetes nor hypertension. She further found a correlation between the recipes of the food from the land that evolved together with its’ people. The food they ate tasted good and kept people healthy.
Miller pondered that places with intact indigenous diets have healthier people. She started to research picking places that mirrored healthy people and referred to them as cold spots, places where there are low rates of chronic disease. She was concentrating on ailments such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, and obesity. This is where she formulated her observations to write her book, The Jungle Effect. Her findings are intriguing and have since paved the way for new ventures, such as presenting to organizations dedicated to natural health and Food and Agriculture worldwide. Miller notes the power of native diets and astutely highlights how some recipes have been modified through modernization. She points out that her grandmother’s simple recipe for healthy borscht soup, originally made from simple ingredients like chicken broth, fresh grated beets, salt, pepper with a dash of yogurt, mutated to canned sweetened beets, dollops of sour cream, and store-bought chicken broth served with bread.
Our modern diets deviate from our authentic, natural, unprocessed food into more processed and additive ridden foods with artificial flavor enhancers. The chemistry is wrong for our innate human biology. The alterations in the food have a causal effect on the alterations to our clothes and health included.
She visited other countries such as Iceland, and they do not suffer from depression there. They eat the most fish possible, some lamb, wild game, milk, and berries. The animals eat mostly the Tundra’s vegetation, and it appears they get their vitamins from the berries and potatoes. They also acquire secondhand vegetation from their protein sources because the Icelandic people claim they really don’t care for vegetables much. Overall, people are in good health.
The same goes for Cameroon, which she noticed has low rates of colon cancer. They eat many vegetables, nuts, spices, grain, and little protein. In Okinawa, the same. They have low cancer rates, and they eat the rainbow of vegetables fresh from their local market. The nutritional lessons learned from Daphne Miller’s journey was that people need to embrace the local nourishment from the land, use the traditional recipes of their forefathers, and perpetuate their food-related rituals from their ancestors.
We learn a good lesson from our Conscientious physician’s work, which is truly humbling. The simplicity of nature provides for us and is good for us. It’s not a vacation, but it’s the trip we should all be taking if we want to be fit and healthy.
Disclaimer: Dear readers, our soils, and clay contain minerals with many beneficial properties when used responsibly. For any chronic or severe ailments, collaboration with your physician or naturopathic professional for optimum relief is recommended. We want our readers in fine form always.
]]>Maybe human nature is trying to recapture the simplicity of our childhood play days? Walking through the neighborhood, I notice more homes with cultured gardens. They have raised planters in the yard, balcony vegetable patches, and urban rooftops brimming with patio gardens.
We’ve weathered a storm and now chose to take back our power to grow our own. The bliss of planting tiny seeds and watch them sprout gives us a comforting feeling. The vitality of Life!
Soil is safe to touch. There’s no need for social distancing. Soil makes you feel better because it’s filled with probiotics and good biology that heal you physically, mentally, and spiritually. It’s natures’ genuine pharmacopeia to mankind.
There’s a transformation with a garden. The transformation is our physical development and the plants growing in soil. We liberate ourselves from confinement, as our relationship with soil lifts our vail of consciousness. We always knew about soil, and we knew what to do with it, but it’s through gardening that we’ve come to appreciate our natural connection.
You can be certain that the affection you deliver in cultivating growing plants is mutual, as you see them climbing upwards to sunlight. This satisfies our human need to nurture, as that plant is looking up at us. Like a parent child relationship. You take pleasure in keeping it safe, giving it food to grow, and watching in amazement when the child does well. In this case, your plants are your children.
The serenity of sitting in the garden just looking at the greenery, with aromatic fresh blooms smiling back at you in appreciation, feels satisfying. It’s like spending time with dear friends. With a turbulent world affecting everyone, the garden becomes a sanctuary to mind and spirit.
Our ancestors have called it “earth magic”. In nature, we can be sure of the land. It’s the natural synergy among the elements that work together to provide a secure structure. The wind dry’s, while the water quenches thirst, and fire navigates passion that moves the spirit in soil to produce a verdant garden. And then there is life, our very roots are created. It’s almost biblical, as we all grew from the garden of Eden.
It’s your soil that produced this, you just had your hands in it, to till it the right way. You were the creative director and manpower that supported the soil, enabling life-sustaining nourishment and fragrant beauty in your garden. Doesn’t this give new dimension to the notion of regenerative agriculture? Who’s helping who? Isn’t soil helping you to regenerate your senses and lift your spirits so you feel human again?
Commercial Farming is the business of growing food to feed the masses. Though we understand the connection with soil – commercial business has dismissed our divine connections through a supersize me concept: “get big or get out,” thus deploying heavy machinery for farming that hinders progressive quality soil.
The winds of change blow a new normal towards us, as we strive for regenerative agriculture, our soil, in turn, helps rejuvenate humanity. With the rooftop gardens and patio planters visible, the dust of soil breath life unto us again as we make our way back to the garden.
"We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion-year-old carbon, and we got to get ourselves back to the garden."
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: Deja-Vu Album - Woodstock
It’s been about 50 years since the mass gathering of 400,000 people in the garden at a farm in New York. Woodstock was the perfect location.
People came from everywhere because they were frustrated and angry. The music played in the garden offered them hope for tomorrow, just like pictures of rainbows hung in our windows today; reminding us not to abandon hope for better days.
Martin Luther King was preaching at the footsteps of the Whitehouse. Humanity fighting for integrity back then too. The cold war was ending, where we lost lives, like we did today, to an invisible harsh pandemic.
"That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Neil Armstrong - The Apollo Mission
50 years ago, we reached for the stars, and touched the moon. Today we’ve launched our probes to Mars, but yesterday’s social events continually linger over us like a mysterious Deja-vu.
We chose a garden then, like we do today, because our natural connection to our soil raises humanity through sustenance. We need our garden, it’s our home.
The important point we may have neglected to consider in years past, is our relationship with soil is reciprocal, and what we put into it, we surely will get out of it. If we pillage our forests, which are the lungs of the Earth giving us oxygen, how will we breath? If we deplete our soil, and trade-off on synthetic replenishments, we will be lacking important crop nutrients which feed us. If we dismiss the importance of our soil, we will not have the ground to walk on, and dwell no more in a garden. -Our beautiful blue planet Earth, our own back yard!
We can revive our living soil. We believe that it will take the contribution of our global village to make this a reality. Join us as we learn from soil scientists, and experts on our journey, as we advocate for soil consciousness, which is pivotal to our health, our climate and is our legacy for future generations.
]]>Nature has provided for life not only on top of the soil, but intelligently created a society of microbes flourishing and promoting a biodiverse culture underneath. There is a cycle to how the different microbes interact in recycling and nurturing the plant life, and likewise plant life cultivating this symbiotic, mutual interdependence.
Climate plays a major role in how our soil is formed. In our century of drastic climate fluctuations, these tiny and beneficial microorganisms require everyone to step up and assure that balance is not interrupted, but promoted for the sake of our food source, and our planet.
By far the most numerous of those microorganisms are single celled microbes, such as bacteria, and fungi. When working the soil, you will see ants, worms, beetles, and other little colonies. We need to acknowledge the seemingly invisible microscopic colonies of good bacteria while we cultivate the soil, because you need them. Do not disturb their diligent work in providing quality soil for us.
In our instantaneous world we demand fast crops to feed an overpopulated planet. Mindful of crop yields, we strive for faster time to market, bigger is better, with good looking food on everyone’s dinner plate. We observe profit at what cost?
The assumption that the use of inorganic fertilizer will help us achieve greater yields is misleading. Agriculture should not be viewed as a factory from which products come from. Agriculture must be recognized as an art in harmony with nature, paying attention to the signs our planet is giving us, forcing us to adapt our practices wisely, rather than fighting nature, aiming for mastery over her.
Paying careful attention to the life that exists beneath us, would favor the nurturing of this “micro-army” we so critically need to rebuild in soil. This friendly army composed of microorganisms put their efforts in making good nutrient rich, bio available soil for our plants, and importantly the crops we grow for food.
To quote Rattan Lal, we ought to think of our soil as our bank account. We need to replenish it often before we spend further. To consume too much will leave our soil depleted, and void of nutrients pertinent to our livelihood.
The generations of crop dusting with pesticides, chemicals, and vermicides have disrupted the invisible ecosystem natural to soil. To nurse this microbiome back to full force, we need to incorporate our wisdom, while observing our science, then conducted with the human heart, nurture this vitality for the sake of humanity.
We have a micro army standing by to help us make this so.
We can revive our living soil; it will take the contribution of our global village to make this a reality. Join us as we learn from scientists, and experts on our journey, as we advocate for soil consciousness, which is pivotal to our health, our climate and is our legacy for future generations.
]]>Growing productive crops is half art and half science. Last year when you walked your fields you noticed that the plants didn’t look as healthy as you remembered from the year before. When you tallied up pounds of produce at the end of harvest your field’s production was less than the year before. This year, before planting, you’ll get your soil analyzed. One of the smartest business decisions you’ll make.
Like the generations of growers before you who have worked that land, you get your shovel, dig up some soil, and send it in for a soil test.
If you send your sample to a university extension or commercial lab for a conventional soil test it can take up to 3 weeks to get back the results and recommendations on soil amendments, so plan accordingly. Generally, the recommendations will be about the amount of N, P, or K you should be adding to your soil. But soil is much more complicated than the nutrients in that soil sample. Soil is alive and the microbiota make a huge contribution to the health of your soil and the productivity of your crops. To put it simply: Microbes affect your bottom line.
If you try to be proactive by spreading some nitrogen because you noticed last year some yellowing of the leaves or if you noticed your plants were a bit spindly you could add some phosphorus. But have you solved the problem? You may have made the problem worse for future crops. Plants are like people, mostly we’re all lazy. If you add extra nitrogen or phosphorus, it’s like giving them candy. Now those plants won’t search for the nutrients in the soil. And this is a vicious cycle: if the plants don’t secrete sugars from their roots as food for microbes, then the microbes won’t have food and die or leave the area, then your plants won’t have allies in their quest for soil nutrients. This is when you could start to lose your crop.
Adding synthetic nutrients gives your plants a short-term boost but your soil is becoming less soil and more dirt every growing season. The leaves may be greener than last year and the stems less spindly, but you have to take into account the impact those excessive nutrients have on the future of your fields, on the soil biology, and on the environment.
Once you have received the results of your conventional soil test, look at the recommendations. Is there any mention of biology except organic matter? Plants have symbiotic relationships with the microbiota in the soil. The greater the microbial activity the healthier and more productive your plants will be. Do they recommend adding lime or nitrogen or…is your soil just dirt and they recommend not growing at all? That was the recommendation Eliot Coleman received from the soil test on his property in Maine;“…the soil scientist warned that the ground did not seem suitable for agriculture.” Eliot Coleman’s response was that with proper soil management any land can be agriculturally productive.
This is the point at which you know that the biology in your soil is more important than ever. You can bring your dirt back to life as soil, but only through the application of organic matter and, to kickstart the process, Humic Land™.
Conventional soil tests measure nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and pH. An advanced test will also test for organic matter in your soil. But there is a lot more to soil health and nutritious, profitable crops than NPK, pH, and organic matter. Because your soil test comes back with a deficiency in any of these nutrients, it doesn’t mean that adding more of any nutrients to the soil will actually be taken up by your plants.
Michael Phillips, in The Holistic Orchard, writes that "…pH and nutrient levels are constantly in flux…" and that "…a slight delay in analyzing a sample will show a shift in certain available nutrient levels as the biology in the soil invariably shifts in accordance with the changed reality."
The microbial activity in your soil isn’t tested by a conventional test but those very microbes determine the level of available nutrients shown in the test. Soil tests always show a moment in time and if the biology isn’t accounted for you can easily over or under fertilize your fields. And keep in mind that if you are using synthetic fertilizers you are giving your plants candy. Do you routinely let your kids have ice cream before dinner? If so, do they eat all their vegetables?
Every grower knows that dark brown, crumbly soil, commonly referred to as loam, is the best soil. But if you have compacted clay or sandy soil can you ever convert it into that desirable beautiful loam? Yes you can, but the speed of that conversion depends on how degraded your soil is to begin with. Creating healthy soil full of biology is a “long game” and well worth the effort. But first you need to know what you’re working with. You need to know the NPK, pH, organic matter AND you need to know what kind of biology you have in your fields.
NPK won’t get you very far without microbes and other soil biotas to ingest the nutrients, move them around, and convert them into forms that plants can absorb. Eliot Coleman masterfully converted a rocky Maine landscape into fertile grow beds. He writes in "Four – Season Harvest" that :
"Undisturbed, the natural crumb structure that characterizes the work of microorganisms, earthworms, and other soil inhabitants actually has more air spaces than disturbed soil. Applying compost to the surface of the soil aids the natural process. The surface organic matter is slowly incorporated into the topsoil by the actions of earthworms and their coworkers. Further decomposition of organic matter by fungal and bacterial action goes on continuously underground."
It’s difficult to grow productively and maintain, or increase, soil health without the complete picture. We’ve been growing for a long time testing only for NPK, a few other micronutrients, and pH. Growing practices since the 1950s have incorporated ever greater doses of fertilizer, pesticides, and fungicides to produce the same quantity of crops.
Production has increased by quantity but both food quality and grower revenue have decreased because of increased synthetic inputs. We have been working against nature and not with nature. Knowing and caring for the microbial activity in your fields will not only increase the QUALITY of your crops, but it will also decrease your dependence on synthetic fertilizers. Less inputs and greater soil health through microbial "farming" mean producing a greater quantity and higher quality of food for more profit.
What can you do about soil that is really just dirt? Soil that has no, or few, active microbes is dirt. It is created by growing practices that douse the earth with synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, and pesticides that take care of the above-ground pests but also take out the below-ground microbiota. A conventional soil test will measure the amount of NPK, pH, and organic matter. To begin to bring your soil back to life you need to give it organic matter. The use of cover crops will help, don’t till them under or pull them up. Their roots secrete food that attracts the microbial community that works with your plants to create nutrient-dense food. With patience, you will have lush earthworm laden soil. Many farmers are learning they can bring their fields back to life faster and be on the road to healthy soil by adding Humic Land™, which includes many microorganisms. Adding Humic Land also allows farmers to cut back on fertilizer, pesticide, and fungicide use because if activates soil microbiota. That activity in your soil means the interactions between the soil and your plants increases the bioavailability of nutrients to plants. Healthy soil equals a greater quantity of high-quality crops which equals more profit.
Our food is only as healthy as the soil it is grown in. Every year you use synthetic inputs your soil health diminishes. As your soil health diminishes so does the nutritional quality of your crops. Go out with a shovel and dig up a shovelful of soil.
What is it like – dark brown, beige, crumbly, sandy, clayey?
How does it smell, taste?
How many earthworms can you count in that shovelful of earth?
Armed with a soil test and a physical examination of your fields you know what you’ve got and where you want to be. It’s your grower’s roadmap to healthy soil and a profitable growing season this year and many years to come.
Plants that have an active symbiotic relationship with the soil biology have increased yields. At the same time, those microbes are increasing the fertility of your soil for future crops. Your job as a grower is to make sure those microbes are happy and healthy. To accomplish that you need to make sure your soil is never bare of growing vegetative matter and to decrease (or altogether quit) your use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. Healthy plants are able to fend off almost all diseases and pests.
Decreased synthetic inputs will also positively affect your bottom line. So, get a soil test and go out and look at your fields with your shovel. Your soil will show you what it needs to produce your most profitable year yet.
All this biological activity in your soil is not accounted for on conventional soil tests. Rogitex is pleased to offer, in cooperation with a number of reputable labs, soil tests for nutrients AND the microbiota in your soil.
]]>Conventional agricultural practices have increased crop yields by 60 % in the last 50 Years, according to Science Daily. But at what cost to the environment? Topsoil is eroding off farmland at the rate of 4.63 tons/acre/year. With that loss of topsoil goes microorganisms and nutrients, degrading the land.
First organic, then sustainable agricultural practices were introduced to stop, and perhaps reverse, the degradation and erosion of soils. Regenerative agriculture is a relatively new farming method but its principles have been around for centuries.
Let’s compare the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, differences between these three agricultural practices.
The primary difference between organic agriculture and sustainable or regenerative farming is that organic farms are tied to the same set of rules established by the government regarding inputs and farming practices. Third party certifying organizations visit organic farms and make sure the rules are being followed.
Sustainable and regenerative agriculture are not bound by rules. A lot of overlap exists between these three farming methods. The desired end product of all their farming practices is a healthier product and healthy soil.
In 2002, after much debate, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the National Organic Program (NOP). According to their NOP Preamble, the purpose, or intent, of the NOP is
“To facilitate domestic and international marketing of fresh and processed food that is organically produced and assure consumers that such products meet consistent, uniform standards.”
Over the years there have been many changes to the rules, but the underlying premise is the same. If you want to sell your farm produce with the organic label you have to farm by the certification’s rules. The USDA rules are:
Over the years large scale commodity crop farmers have adopted organic farming practices. That has meant thousand-acre corn, soybean, and other commodity crop farms sell under the organic label. Those farms are farmed by the rules but the goal isn’t necessarily soil health.
When you’re growing 1,000s of acres of one crop, whether you're using organic farming practices or conventional, it’s still mono-cropping or factory farming. Crop rotation on organic farms helps minimize buildup of soil pathogens but any monocrop is a beacon for insects and disease.
Organic farmers use buffer strips of native plantings to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Buffer strips are part of an organic farmer’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. Not only does IPM help keep pest populations under control, IPM also brings a great deal of biodiversity into a farm ecosystem.
On some commodity farms buffers are a very small percentage of the total acreage. Because synthetic herbicides aren’t allowed on an organic farm, there is often more tillage- therefore more erosion-to keep down weeds. A study done in 2010 by researchers at the University of Guelph found natural pesticides to be less effective than synthetic pesticides. Often an organic grower will have to spray more often, leaving residues that can affect human health.
And there’s a strong financial incentive for a farmer to use organic food production practices. Those agricultural products can sell for 2x the price of crops grown using conventional agriculture.
Even if organic farming isn’t perfect, it’s better for the environment and all consumers than using conventional farming practices.
In the 1950s farming became big business and The Sustainable Agriculture Movement started as a reaction to the Green Revolution. There are many voices around sustainable agriculture including Rachel Carson, Wes Jackson, and Wendell Berry. It was a reaction against the use of pesticides, animal welfare in CAFOs deemed unacceptable, and technical assistance the developed world was giving to the underdeveloped parts of the world. That assistance was in the form of hybrid seeds, large machinery, and conventional agricultural practices that weren't sustainable.
Over time sustainable farming has changed but the underlying principles have remained the same. According to the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Program, developed in 2015, sustainable agriculture is defined as:
An integrated system of plant and animal production practices that have site-specific applications that will over the long term:
The USDA offers guidance for a farm or ranch to be sustainable. They suggest rotational grazing, soil conservation, stewardship of wetlands, cover crops, and integrated pest management, among other practices. Note that the “sustainability” is directed to the ability of the farmer to make a living off his farm while maintaining natural resources for future generations.
Farming is a business, after all, and a farmer has to make a profit. But not every farmer sees sustainable farming in the same way. A sustainable farmer may use organic farming practices and an organic farmer may be farming sustainably. As an informed consumer ask your farmer if he uses synthetics, or tills, or plants cover crops. You can’t always ask, but whenever possible find out how your food is grown.
In theory a farmer plants a crop, harvests it, and replaces the nutrients used. Sustainable farmers try to do this without resorting to chemical inputs. They use on-farm resources and till as little as possible, trying to mimic nature. Their goal is to retain healthy soil for next year's crops. Sustainable farming practices use crop rotation as another tool so land use continues to maintain crop yields.
But in reality, a farmer is either increasing the organic matter in his soil (regenerative) or he’s not. If not, then each year his farm will be less productive. A farmer doesn’t set out to decrease the fertility of his land. But it’s difficult to keep all the pieces in balance. And a farm ecosystem has lots of pieces. Sustainable farming is site-specific so no one set of farming practices fits all.
If a farmer is using best practices to create a positive impact in his farm ecosystem, he’s practicing sustainable agriculture. There are cover crops to keep roots in the soil year-round, few (if any) synthetic chemicals used, and a minimum of tillage. His farm will look quite different from his conventional farming neighbors.
When the neighbor uses traditional farming practices, they’re losing topsoil and causing soil degradation. They’re adding carbon dioxide to the air with every tillage and losing carbon, organic matter, and microorganisms from the soil. The soil is becoming dirt, which has to be supported by more chemical inputs every year just to maintain productivity. Traditional, or conventional farming, has been linked to climate change.
Many now think sustainable farming isn’t enough to avoid the impending climate crisis. While sustainable farming may retain soil fertility or slowly increase it, regenerative farming has the potential to increase soil quality and farm profitability at a much faster pace. Healthy soil is critical for carbon sequestration and increases the ability of our planet to survive.
Often the same management practices apply to sustainable and regenerative agriculture. The difference is in how the farmer sees his farm. A sustainable ecosystem is hard to maintain, nature is always changing and there are more factors than it is possible for us to see, or even imagine. So, sustaining is always an uphill battle. Trying to figure out what’s needed and staying one step ahead for each harvest is more difficult than looking at the long-range picture.
Organic, sustainable, and regenerative farmers all see how complex the system is. It’s how each farmer reacts to that complexity, trying to create order or allowing chaos.
Nature is chaotic.
There are billions of microorganisms in a teaspoon of soil. Now imagine the entire food web including the digestion of your supper. It’s pretty overwhelming when you really look at it. Regenerative agriculture looks at the whole system, taking a holistic view.
The USDA has not officially defined regenerative ag, they see it as a continuation of sustainable agriculture. And in many ways, it is. Sustainable ag emphasizes improving soil health by incorporating on-farm resources and including the farmer and society as parts of the long-term solution to adequate food and fiber needs now and into the future.
Numerous studies have been conducted to determine what regenerative farming is and have found no definitive answer. Kurt Lawton, writing for The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in 2020, has defined regenerative ag as:
“A philosophy based on common principles, not a specific set of practices. These regenerative principles include re-establishing relationships between people and land, building soil health, reducing or eliminating the use of harmful chemicals, growing diverse crops, holistic and humane livestock management, innovative and efficient use of resources, and equitable labor practices.”
This definition goes beyond organic and sustainable agriculture to include the entire Community; producers, processors, and consumers. This Community isn’t only human but includes the entire natural world. It’s a philosophy that’s been borrowed from Indigenous peoples who’ve been farming in harmony with nature for centuries. Some modern-day farmers may find this too extreme.
But the common principles can be simplified into these 4 ideas:
Regenerative agriculture is about so much more than improving soil health. It’s also about building a stronger link between farmers and their communities. There is a strong social dimension to regenerative ag that is missing from organic and secondary in sustainable agriculture.
The vast majority of organic farmers operate with the intent set forth when the NOP was established. The organic agricultural practices of crop rotations, using on-farm inputs whenever possible, using nonGMO seeds, and tilling only when necessary are used to improve soil fertility and increase yields.
Sustainable farmers focus more of their attention on the physical treatment of their land. No-till, cover crops, and larger buffer zones of native plant species are sustainable agricultural practices.
Regenerative farming is about more than just farming. The soil is primary and farm management practices that incorporate livestock with crops are seen as more holistic. It’s the farming practice that is the most inclusive, including both the natural food web and the human community.
Using cover crops, few (if any) synthetic inputs, crop rotation and diversity, and the least amount of soil disturbance are central to all three farming methods. Organic farmers have more restrictions on inputs to retain their organic certification.
Harmful synthetic chemicals are seen by all these farmers as detrimental to them as producers, to consumers, and to the earth.
Recently, The Rodale Institute, together with Patagonia and a group of supporting companies, introduced the Regenerative Organic label which merges two different visions of farming into one holistic approach. Organic farming has grown in market share by consumer demand. How will you, the consumer, respond to the more holistic regenerative farming approach? Time will tell.
]]>Aeroponics is a method of growing plants without soil with a bit of water. In this system, plants are suspended in the air. The plants regularly receive a mist of nutrient-rich water mix solution. The aeroponics system is a closed system, so the water that the plants do not take is recycled. This technique makes excellent use of space as crops are grown in vertical towers or horizontal boards.
The tiny seeds are planted in foam or Rockwool cubes, and once they germinate, they can be transplanted into the aeroponics system.
Who discovered aeroponics?
According to Wikipedia, the first person to talk about what will later be known as aeroponics was V.M. Artsikhovski, who published an article in the Journal Experienced Agronomy in 1911. The system continues to be studied and developed in labs without much attraction in the commercial environment.
In 1957, F. W. Went coined the term aeroponics, growing coffee and tomatoes plants, using nutrient-rich mist to feed the roots.
It was only in the ‘80s that it was incorporated in farming. GTi manufactured the first aeroponics system known as the Genesis Machine.
What is the difference between hydroponics and aeroponics?
There are some key differences between these two methods and some similarities. Although some people get mixed thinking that both systems are the same, the only similarity is that both offer an alternative to grow without soil.
In a hydroponic system, plants are in water all the time, and a constant flow of water brings nutrients to the roots.
In an aeroponic system, plants are suspended in the air and receive the nutrients from a mist that is sprayed directly onto their roots.
Living green farm’s blog explains, "Aeroponic farms are completely controlled and enclosed environments, with crops growing suspended in air. The plants are contained in a humid atmosphere where frequent misting delivers a nutrient rich solution right to the roots, keeping the crop from drying out. Because the entire process is enclosed, the mist is able to remain around the plants for longer, helping them grow much quicker than in a traditional outdoor farm."
Being a closed system gives the advantage that it is a 100% controlled environment. Plants have a minimal chance of encountering disease or pests.
What can you grow with aeroponics?
There are so many options. If you do a quick search online, you will come up with several lists. Here are the top favourites:
Green leaf – all of them work very well.
Herbs – are also easy to grow, and you will benefit from all year harvest.
Some fruits – the most common one is strawberries, tomatoes (determinate ones are the best).
You can try other vegetables, such as broccoli, peas, and bean. The key is to provide the plant with the right nutrients and support it may need to grow.
Aeroponics systems are great for indoor growing or when you don’t have a garden.
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