In part one of this series, I briefly discussed the importance of education for understanding how soil function and ecosystem processes play a critical role for water quality.  Now let’s turn our attention to determining the “right rate” for nitrogen. Nutrient management plans focus heavily on nitrogen because it is critical for plant growth and […]

Poor water quality has been a persistent challenge in agriculture, particularly due to sediment and nutrient loss from farmland. It is considered a “wicked problem” with conflicting social, political, economic, and environmental aspects that prevent solutions. In this blog series I will challenge the notion that degraded water is something we all have to live […]

Most of us have heard the old sayings regarding weather and farming including, “Don’t plant until the barn swallows return,” and “Wait until the oak leaves are as big as a squirrel’s ear.” These, and many other sayings, were tied to observations and farming in sync with what Mother Nature was telling us in terms […]

The first two parts of this series examined the critical role of carbon in powering plant and soil life (all terrestrial life) and the cyclic outflow from an average corn field. Now let’s look at inflows. Unsurprisingly, the lack of photosynthesizing plant cover throughout the growing season makes the carbon inflows smaller. Maintaining living cover […]

I’m a traveler unseen, in cycles I flow, From the air to the earth, far down below. Plants welcome me in their leafy grace, As part of a process, essential to embrace. I dance with the sun, in the atmosphere high, Yet in oceans and soil, you’ll find me nearby. Roots release me when they […]

In soil I lie, a secret unseen, A cornerstone of life, in every green. With humble microbes, a dance serene, In Earth’s embrace, my role is keen. In the ground I dwell, unseen but grand, A vital link in life’s command. With microbes and roots, a partnership planned, In the soil I’m hidden, yet readily […]

When I began studying ornamental horticulture and landscape design over 25 years ago, regenerative agriculture was just a twinkle in Gabe Brown’s eye and a glimpse of the future in the eyes of Allen Williams’, Ph.D. For me, well, I was taking an introductory soil science class in a two-year horticulture degree program at Farmingdale […]

Planning Winter Cover Crop Rotations Maximizing cover crop benefits in the garden requires strong crop planning with strategic rotations coupled with creative improvision so it’s important to examine strategies and considerations for incorporating cover crops with no-till methods and inter-seeding.  These strategies can apply to the market gardener or home gardener, and have applications for […]