I recently attended two sessions of the Carbon Farming Course organized by Appleseed Permaculture with the support of many progressive and forward thinking agricultural organizations. The course was held at the Pfeiffer Center for Biodynamic Farming at Chestnut Ridge, New York, and offered several workshops in regenerative agriculture featuring speakers at the top of their profession and recognized nationally, and in some cases, internationally.
I selected two out of several workshops that appealed to me. Each was three days long and covered the topics in great detail so that participants came away with, not only a theoretical introduction to the topics, but hands-on, practical applications.
The first workshop was on the subject of Perennial Agriculture and was taught jointly by Dr. Wes Jackson of The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, and Dave Jacke, author of "Edible Forest Gardens". Both these teachers are tops in their field and gave generously of their knowledge to the participants.
Perennial agriculture is the complete opposite of what agriculture is today. Except for fruit production, most agriculture worldwide is focused on annual crops. Grains are at the top of the list for crops grown around the world. These include (in order of importance): wheat, rice, maize (corn), soybeans, barley, sorghum, cottonseed, dry beans, millet and rapeseed/mustard. These crops cover approximately 80% of global agricultural land.
Along with these very important staple foods, other crops, such as most of our vegetables, are annuals and must be replanted and then harvested each year. Dr. Jackson, plant geneticist, noticed the high costs and inputs that go into an annual cropping system each year. Yearly applications of ertilizers, pesticides, equipment costs etc. must be factored into the costs of farming annuals. The shallow-rooted annual plants and then the bare soil of the "off season" leads to severe soil erosion, depletion of soil fertility and also water contamination.
One need only look on the internet for a satellite photograph of the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico to see the negative effects of annual agriculture from the Mississippi River basin and the North American prairies (the "breadbasket" of the nation) to understand how much real wealth has been lost through careless and thoughtless agricultural practices since the opening of the prairies. The phenomenon of loss of soil through erosion and contamination of water by excessive use of fertilizers and the use of pesticides, is not unique to North America but has affected every continent and every ecosystem on the planet.
Perennial agriculture seeks to return to a type of agriculture that corresponds better to ecology. Before the settlers started farming the prairies, rich polycultures of plants grew on extraordinary soils with deep, fertile topsoils, the likes of which had never been seen by Europeans before. The equivalent of the prairie soils had been discovered and developed in the Russian steppes too.
Dr. Jackson and the research team at The Land Institute are breeding perennial wheat and other grains to replace the annuals now in production around the world. The perennials would create large root systems that would hold the remaining soil and protect it from erosion, contribute to the creation of deepening and improving the fertility of the soil and reduce costs of production because of the reduced need for fertilizer and other inputs.
Dave Jacke's approach to perennial agriculture takes the form of mimicking another type of natural ecosystem - the woodland. Woodlands and forests generally contain many layers of vegetation. The overstory of trees, depending on the species and density, often has a shrub layer and a ground cover layer of herbaceous perennials and annuals. The soil remains covered. Root depths vary species to species and the variety of plants grow in their niches complementing the growth of their neighbors in various ways.
Deep rooted plants draw moisture and nutrients up to shallower depths where roots of other plants can access these necessary ingredients for growth. Beneficial relationships between the plants and the soil microbial populations develop undisturbed by frequent tilling. Waste products from plants, falling leaves and branches, and exudates from roots, for example, contribute to soil fertility by cycling the nutrients into the soil where soil organisms utilize them. Eventually, those nutrients are convered back into forms useful again to the plants. These materials are not leaching into groundwater as agricultural fertilizers often do.
By understanding these cycles of nature, Dave Jacke teaches how to design a polycultural system using trees, shrubs, vines, perennial and annual herbaceous plants. These edible forest gardens, when carefully designed, will become self-sustaining, needing very little effort and manipulation by the human tender.
An edible forest garden may consist of one tree, two or three shrubs and a dozen or so herbaceous plants. Or, it may be a forest garden that covers many acres. Whatever the size, careful selection and placement of the plants and the access paths permit the growth of food and possibly fiber and building material too, in sustainable systems that require little, if any, outside inputs of fertilizers and pesticides.
References that I recommend for more reading on designing edible forest gardens are:
"Creating a Forest Garden: Working With Nature To Grow Edible Crops" by Martin Crawford, www.greenbooks.co.uk ISBN 978 1 900322 621.
"Edible Forest Gardens" Volume 1 and Volume 2, by Dave Jacke with Eric Toensmeier, www.chelseagreen.com ISBN 1-931498-80-6.
"How To Make A Forest Garden", Patrick Whitefield, www.chelseagreen.com
ISBN 13:978-1-85623-008-7
The second of the three-day workshops I attended was The Living Soil with Dr. Elaine Ingham as presenter. Check back to this site soon for a description of this valuable workshop.
Spring Beekeeping Workshop
Demonstration Hive
Monday, February 6, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT - STARTING SEEDS
WHEN: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18,
2012
9:30am –
12:00pm
WHERE: CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE
LIVING,
BETHLEHEM,
CT 06751
INSTRUCTOR: CYNTHIA RABINOWITZ
COURSE FEE: $20, includes refreshments
Starting and growing
your own garden seeds is a fun project for the whole family. Also, growing plants from seeds saves money
and allows the growing of a succession of plants throughout the summer, instead
of just one crop.
This workshop will
cover seed selection, heirloom and heritage seeds, appropriate containers, correct soil mixes, nutrition,
light, temperature and water needs.
The program will
combine lecture and demonstration.
Cynthia Rabinowitz has
been a consulting soil scientist, and environmental horticulturist for over 30
years. Ms. Rabinowitz is also a
certified Permaculture Design Consultant.
To register, please
visit www.connsoil.com and click on
Educational Programs. Print out a
registration form and mail in with registration fee.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Schitaake Mushroom Planting Day Party
We have 12 acres of land here, so you'd think we would have lots and lots of room for crops, right? Actually, not as much as you would think. We may have only about one acre of open, relatively level ground for growing food. The rest of our land is quite rugged and rocky, very steep in places or is wetland, ponds or streams. It is really beautiful and diverse and is home to countless bird species and all kinds of wild animals including bear, coyote, fox, and many smaller mammals too.
Trying to obtain a yield from the wooded parts of our land is really fun and interesting. There are obvious things to harvest e.g. firewood and building lumber and tree fruits such as hickories and acorns.
Under the trees is the perfect habitat for logs impregnated with mushroom spores so we are trying our hand at Shitaakes. We have already spread Winecap mushroom spores in beds of compost covered with wood chips under our fruit trees. That species will take more sun exposure than the Schitaakes.
To pass on the knowledge about this fun "farming" activity, we invited a few of our closest and earthiest friends over on a Sunday morning recently to help us plug the fresh cut oak logs with the mushroom spore plugs. Of course, it was the coldest morning to date at about 20 degrees so we made a makeshift firepit on the driveway with cinder blocks. The fire really threw off a lot of heat and kept everyone comfortable, along with hot tea and coffee from a never-ending pot.
The first task is to drill small holes into the logs in a uniform diamond pattern around the circumference of each log. Then we pounded the plugs into these small holes with rubber mallets. The last task is to seal the plugs over with melted wax painted on with small paint brushes. The fire came in handy to keep the wax melted - since it was so cold out, the wax only stayed melted for a few minutes at a time.
When all the logs were done, they were set out under trees in a very moist area as close to the house as possible. It will be important to keep an eye on them from next spring on to see if they start to "flush" the mushrooms. When the mushrooms emerge, they must be harvested as quickly as possible otherwise flies or slugs will infest and ruin them.
We've been told that once the logs start producing, they may continue, on and off, for a few months, and then again in subsequent years. That would be really lovely! Either way, though, we plan to do more next year and keep a continuous supply coming. We can sell them to restaurants, at farmers' markets or preserve them by drying or freezing, for our own use.
All intrepid helpers enjoyed a sumptuous pot luck brunch afterwards and took home a couple of logs to try at their homes.
I'll be sure to post pictures next year when our logs start producing.
Trying to obtain a yield from the wooded parts of our land is really fun and interesting. There are obvious things to harvest e.g. firewood and building lumber and tree fruits such as hickories and acorns.
Under the trees is the perfect habitat for logs impregnated with mushroom spores so we are trying our hand at Shitaakes. We have already spread Winecap mushroom spores in beds of compost covered with wood chips under our fruit trees. That species will take more sun exposure than the Schitaakes.
To pass on the knowledge about this fun "farming" activity, we invited a few of our closest and earthiest friends over on a Sunday morning recently to help us plug the fresh cut oak logs with the mushroom spore plugs. Of course, it was the coldest morning to date at about 20 degrees so we made a makeshift firepit on the driveway with cinder blocks. The fire really threw off a lot of heat and kept everyone comfortable, along with hot tea and coffee from a never-ending pot.
The first task is to drill small holes into the logs in a uniform diamond pattern around the circumference of each log. Then we pounded the plugs into these small holes with rubber mallets. The last task is to seal the plugs over with melted wax painted on with small paint brushes. The fire came in handy to keep the wax melted - since it was so cold out, the wax only stayed melted for a few minutes at a time.
When all the logs were done, they were set out under trees in a very moist area as close to the house as possible. It will be important to keep an eye on them from next spring on to see if they start to "flush" the mushrooms. When the mushrooms emerge, they must be harvested as quickly as possible otherwise flies or slugs will infest and ruin them.
We've been told that once the logs start producing, they may continue, on and off, for a few months, and then again in subsequent years. That would be really lovely! Either way, though, we plan to do more next year and keep a continuous supply coming. We can sell them to restaurants, at farmers' markets or preserve them by drying or freezing, for our own use.
All intrepid helpers enjoyed a sumptuous pot luck brunch afterwards and took home a couple of logs to try at their homes.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Farmers Occupy Wall Street
My choices are now predicated on 2 beliefs:
1. The planet can no longer sustain a consumptive lifestyle that has been perpetrated during the industrial era, advertising agencies, and the notion of a continuously, and forever, growing economy with disregard for the finite nature of natural resources, on which that growing economy is based.
2. We can mimic nature, because we are part of it. By doing so, we can design a new “old” way of living that will sustain itself and be healthier and everlasting.
In these beliefs I have, of course, been influenced by many great thinkers who have written on many subjects stemming from these core ideas. There are also many writers and thinkers who have used their art or science to demonstrate what is wrong. There are many who are demonstrating how we can try to put things right.
To join people who are demonstrating publicly, in the streets, I journeyed to New York City on Sunday, December 11, 2011, with my friend, Jennifer, to be part of "Farmers' March Occupy Wall Street". This rally of several hundred people gathered at La Plaza Cultural at 9th Street and Avenue B, a lovely community garden space in a Lower East Side area with a lot of visible gardens on many blocks. After 2 hours of speeches by prominent activists in the national farming and Permaculture movements, we formed into a broad column to walk to Zuccoti Park at Wall Street.
Speakers at the event included Karen Washington, Founder of City Farms Market and board member at NYC based organization, Just Food; Jim Gerritsen, a Maine organic farmer and lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against Monsanto and was named one of 25 World Visionaries by Utne Reader in 2011; Severine von Tscharner Fleming, food advocate and producer of the film "Green Horns" profiling young farmer entrepreneurs; Jalal Sabur, Founding member of the Freedom Food Alliance, an alliance of black urban comunities with black rural farmers; Mike Callicrate, Colorado rancher, entrepreneur and rural political activist; Andrew Faust, Permaculture expert and educator.
What struck me vividly was the cross section of generations at this event - the aging baby boomers and older generations, and many young people from all walks of life. The younger people will have to carry the torch for food security and social justice now. It won't be an easy task but I am confident, after seeing the vitality and enthusiasm of those present at this event, that it will happen.
1. The planet can no longer sustain a consumptive lifestyle that has been perpetrated during the industrial era, advertising agencies, and the notion of a continuously, and forever, growing economy with disregard for the finite nature of natural resources, on which that growing economy is based.
2. We can mimic nature, because we are part of it. By doing so, we can design a new “old” way of living that will sustain itself and be healthier and everlasting.
In these beliefs I have, of course, been influenced by many great thinkers who have written on many subjects stemming from these core ideas. There are also many writers and thinkers who have used their art or science to demonstrate what is wrong. There are many who are demonstrating how we can try to put things right.
To join people who are demonstrating publicly, in the streets, I journeyed to New York City on Sunday, December 11, 2011, with my friend, Jennifer, to be part of "Farmers' March Occupy Wall Street". This rally of several hundred people gathered at La Plaza Cultural at 9th Street and Avenue B, a lovely community garden space in a Lower East Side area with a lot of visible gardens on many blocks. After 2 hours of speeches by prominent activists in the national farming and Permaculture movements, we formed into a broad column to walk to Zuccoti Park at Wall Street.
Speakers at the event included Karen Washington, Founder of City Farms Market and board member at NYC based organization, Just Food; Jim Gerritsen, a Maine organic farmer and lead plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against Monsanto and was named one of 25 World Visionaries by Utne Reader in 2011; Severine von Tscharner Fleming, food advocate and producer of the film "Green Horns" profiling young farmer entrepreneurs; Jalal Sabur, Founding member of the Freedom Food Alliance, an alliance of black urban comunities with black rural farmers; Mike Callicrate, Colorado rancher, entrepreneur and rural political activist; Andrew Faust, Permaculture expert and educator.
What struck me vividly was the cross section of generations at this event - the aging baby boomers and older generations, and many young people from all walks of life. The younger people will have to carry the torch for food security and social justice now. It won't be an easy task but I am confident, after seeing the vitality and enthusiasm of those present at this event, that it will happen.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
No Frost Yet
We are 3 weeks past our usual first frost date here in the northwest hills of Connecticut. The garden is slowing down and we're pulling out some plants that have obviously stopped growing and producing. We are protecting others with makeshift cold frames made with hay bales. I will be posting pictures of those later.
Here is a nice picture of some of yesterday's harvest, taken by Suzanne Elliott.
Here is a nice picture of some of yesterday's harvest, taken by Suzanne Elliott.
Friday, August 26, 2011
HURRICANE IRENE EXPECTED SOON
The following information is being circulated by the Connecticut Department of Agriculture to help you prepare for the coming hurricane expected to hit our state on Sunday morning. Even if you are not an agricultural producer, this is , helpful. If you have a garden, it would be a good idea to harvest as much as you can of sensitive crops that may be damaged by heavy rain, or provide protection for them. Hoops or cold frames should be securely anchored. If you have greenhouses and the plastic sides are rolled up, unroll the plastic and anchor securely to the ground and bury the edge of the plastic so wind cannot get underneath and whip the plastic off your greenhouse.
Also, make sure you have adequate supplies of drinking water on hand. Emergency personel recommend 1 gallon of water per person per day. If power goes out, we don't know how long it will be for, so over compensate!
From Agricultural Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky: An important message regarding Hurricane Irene
Dear Connecticut Agricultural Producer:
The latest report from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (http://www.ct.gov/demhs), issued at 8:15 a.m. today (Friday), indicates that Hurricane Irene is expected to arrive in the Bridgeport, Connecticut, area around 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning as a strong Category I hurricane.
It is imperative you take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of yourself, family, farm, and livestock.
The first effects from Irene are expected to begin Saturday afternoon with light rain, which is expected to become heavy at times by midnight. Heavy rain is expected to continue from midnight on Saturday through the passage of the center of Irene late Sunday morning (especially in Western Connecticut). Tropical storm force winds are expected to enter the state before daybreak on Sunday and hurricane force winds are expected by mid morning on Sunday.
Information has been posted on the Connecticut Department of Agriculture's website, www.ctgrown.gov, to help you prepare your farm for the storm. Additional information from Governor Malloy, available at www.ct.gov/Irene, can help you prepare your home and family.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture will be collecting information about storm-related damage to farms in the state. If you incur damage to your livestock, crops, equipment, or buildings, please fill out and return the attached form to us as soon as possible.
Please return the forms via one of the following methods:
Email: ctdeptag@ct.gov
Fax: 860-713-2516
USPS: CT Department of Agriculture Marketing Department, 165 Capitol Avenue, Room 129, Hartford, CT 06106.
This information will be used to prepare damage reports for Governor Malloy and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection if needed. It also may be used to seek federal assistance if the extent of the damage warrants. Therefore it is very important that we receive information that is as accurate and complete as possible as soon as possible.
Thank you for your assistance. Please stay safe and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Steven K. Reviczky
Commissioner
Also, make sure you have adequate supplies of drinking water on hand. Emergency personel recommend 1 gallon of water per person per day. If power goes out, we don't know how long it will be for, so over compensate!
From Agricultural Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky: An important message regarding Hurricane Irene
Dear Connecticut Agricultural Producer:
The latest report from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (http://www.ct.gov/demhs), issued at 8:15 a.m. today (Friday), indicates that Hurricane Irene is expected to arrive in the Bridgeport, Connecticut, area around 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning as a strong Category I hurricane.
It is imperative you take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of yourself, family, farm, and livestock.
The first effects from Irene are expected to begin Saturday afternoon with light rain, which is expected to become heavy at times by midnight. Heavy rain is expected to continue from midnight on Saturday through the passage of the center of Irene late Sunday morning (especially in Western Connecticut). Tropical storm force winds are expected to enter the state before daybreak on Sunday and hurricane force winds are expected by mid morning on Sunday.
Information has been posted on the Connecticut Department of Agriculture's website, www.ctgrown.gov, to help you prepare your farm for the storm. Additional information from Governor Malloy, available at www.ct.gov/Irene, can help you prepare your home and family.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture will be collecting information about storm-related damage to farms in the state. If you incur damage to your livestock, crops, equipment, or buildings, please fill out and return the attached form to us as soon as possible.
Please return the forms via one of the following methods:
Email: ctdeptag@ct.gov
Fax: 860-713-2516
USPS: CT Department of Agriculture Marketing Department, 165 Capitol Avenue, Room 129, Hartford, CT 06106.
This information will be used to prepare damage reports for Governor Malloy and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection if needed. It also may be used to seek federal assistance if the extent of the damage warrants. Therefore it is very important that we receive information that is as accurate and complete as possible as soon as possible.
Thank you for your assistance. Please stay safe and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Steven K. Reviczky
Commissioner
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