Sustainability

Black fabric made of corn is laid down by tractor to act as a mulch layer. This fabric helps to heat the soil underneath for root development, suppresses weed germination, and aids in water retention. At the end of the season, this mulch is left in the fields to decompose and add to our soil composition.

There are many ways that farmers irrigate their crops. We have found drip irrigation to be the best practice for what we do. Under each layer of biodegradable mulch are two runs of drip tape. This thin tubing inflates with water during specified times of day and emits water slowly to allow for proper coverage and absorption by plants. This allows us to reduce the amount of water wasted and delivers the water directly to the roots.

On the farm we grow many of the same plants year-to-year, but are constantly moving them throughout our fields. This is known as a crop rotation, and can help in disturbing pest and insect life cycles, improve soil composition and aeration, as well as allow for better microbiology to develop within the soil.

Soil health is one of the biggest factors in growing healthy crops. We work with a number of local farmers to bring in quality organic matter to feed into our compost. Any plant product that is grown on the farm but not sold will be added back into our compost to help feed future crops.

Every effort is made to not employ the use of pesticides on the farm, the biggest being the use of biological controls. Through reputable sources, we bring in ladybugs, green lacewings, mantis, and other insects which feed on common pests within our gardens and greenhouse.

While the farm is not certified organic, we use many organic products to help reduce our impact. When a biological control cannot be used, a naturally occurring pesticide (Neem Oil) is utilized to help control insect populations. We also use organic fertilizers to help our plants develop in a natural and healthy way.