Methods

Our market garden uses Regenerative Growing methods to grow 4 acres of food on 1.5 acres.  Our methods are labor intensive which allows us to grow for flavor rather than efficiency.  We use natural methods that promote good soil health and plant vitality. Our goal is to produce plants so healthy they are resistant to disease and insects. Plant vitality allows us to grow without using pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.   After the harvest we plant cover crops, green manure and indigenous micro-organisms, to replenish the soil.

COVER CROPPING

Between rows of trees and vines a variety of cover crops are planted from year to year. Cover crops include mustard, rapeseed, red clover, white clover, crimson clover, barley and rye. Cover crops provide a variety of benefits depending on the species.

Benefits can include nitrogen fixation, breaking up compaction, adding organic matter to the soil, moisture retention, fumigation, attracting and supplying a food source for beneficials, and preventing nutrient leeching into ground water.

INSECT MONITORING

Weekly population levels and life cycles are monitored or identified key pests and beneficial insects. Keeping a good eye on not only pests but beneficial insects is critical to a robust pest control system. This insures we time all inputs in a way that does not negatively impact beneficial insects.