Healthy soil is the foundation from which we grow.
As farmers, our job is to provide the right environment for life to thrive. That starts with protecting the health of our soil. Healthy soil has microbes, insects, and mycorrhizal fungi, readily available nutrients, and good drainage and aeration. It is a living ecosystem that must be tended to as well as any crop. Below you will find that many of our practices focus on that principle.
Polyculture farming
Every field is planted with multiple crops to maintain biodiversity and push the limits of how much food we can grow in small spaces. Polycultures that prioritize plant diversity lead to greater biodiversity in the local ecosystem, providing ample habitat for pollinators, as well as common pest predators such as hoverflies, praying mantises, spiders, and parasitic wasps.
Cover cropping
Cover crops can reduce soil losses from wind and water erosion, reduce nitrogen (N) losses, utilize excessive soil moisture, promote biodiversity, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure. An oat cover crop has the ability to suppress disease in the soil, while rye is a well-known inhibitor of weed seed germination.
Reduced tilling
Tilling at the beginning of a season can create a loose, even bed for planting, but to prevent compaction and the disturbance of beneficial life beneath the surface, we only till the top six inches.
Crop rotation
Strategic crop rotations leverage the root exudates of different plant species to suppress plant pathogens and weed growth in the soil. Rotating crops improves soil health and breaks pest cycles.
Tarping
Silage tarps help manage weeds and quickly turn beds around for new crops. The tarp absorbs sunlight, creating a warm, humid environment underneath for weeds to germinate and then die. Instead of competing with our crops, they become food for the soil.
Integrated Pest Management
Grow It Green doesn't use harmful pesticides or herbicides. We monitor crops closely for early signs of pests and disease, keep annual records, and use physical barriers and beneficial insects to minimize pests. We use premium quality seeds that are bred for disease resistance and we rotate our crops continuously throughout the season.
Native pollinator gardens
Native pollinator gardens grow throughout the farm and along the perimeter, attracting beneficial insects and animals that help maintain a balanced ecosystem on the farm. We also maintain an apiary at Early St. Community Garden, just two miles away, full of thousands of honey bees that help to pollinate plants at the garden and farm.