The Future of Agriculture
No-Till + Cover Crops = Regenerative Farming
Cover Crops and No-Till are the keys to restoring the health and natural biology of the Earth's Soils.
Gabe Brown, US regenerative farmer & pioneer in the advancement of "No-Till + Cover Crop"
5 Keys to Soil Health:
- Least amount of mechanical disturbance possible
- All tillage tools destroy soil structure
- All tillage reduces water infiltration
- All tillage reduces organic matter
- All tillage increases weeds
- Armor on the Soil
- Keep the soil covered at all times
- Diversity of Crop/Cover Crops in rotation
- Living roots in soil at all times
- Mycorrhizal fungi live in association with living roots
- Animal Foraging
Managing Cover Crops Profitably Free SARE e-Book download
Cover Crop Benefits
- Prevents Erosion
- Improves Soil Structure
- Increases Organic Matter
- Suppress Weeds
- Increases Moisture
- Adds Nutrients
- Less Work and Chemicals
Soil Regeneration
The application of cover crops, no-till, diversity and rotation of crops and animal foraging (mob grazing) can regenerate the soil faster than commonly believed. It is done without inputs of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals and results in higher yields at lower costs. The same principles apply to the small/market gardener with some additional elements such as flail mowing cover crops and minimal surface tillage for green corps that cannot emerge through a thick mat of plant fiber.
Increased Productivity
Many studies and regenerative farmers experience substiantiate the increased productivity, lower costs, less labor and improved carbon content etc. Yet many farmers (and gardeners) are either ignorant of the benefits or timid in their efforts to transition to a more sustainable and healthier (for humans and the soil) method of food production. Why?
Cover Crop Seed
Cover crops are an essential element of regenerating the carbon content of the soil, enhancing nutrients, reducing soil temp. in summer and increasing moisture absorption capacity.
Mycorrhizal Fungi Mix
Mycorrhizal fungi are one of the key elements in helping plants absorb phosphorus and trace minerals; as well as dramatically increasing the water absorbing ability of the plant.
Organic Bio-Nutrients
Adding bio-nutrients in the form of enzymes, amino-acids, micro-elements, macro-elements, auxins [plant hormones], vitamins, humic acids, fulvic acids, crenic acids, hormone producing substances etc.) enables them to resist disease and develop at an accelerated rate.
