Sunday, November 28th
After setting up camp on “The Garden Of” organic farm, we took a tour of the near-complete cob house that members of the bike tour helped to build last year. Then we picked her brains about organic farming. Here are some highlights of that discussion:
• Nothing about growing crops should be a “battle,” but rather an attempt to maintain a natural balance and allow the farm to completely self-regulate when failures occur.
• Noey explained that the primary insect prevention method utilized on her farm is planting the right crops at the appropriate time; good planning is the best way to avoid crop loss due to seasonal predators and the temptation to use any kind of pesticide.
• Always think at least two seasons in advance when planting any crop.
• The farm uses a combination of compost, manure and cover crops (usually nitrogen-fixing plants) instead of chemicals to fertilize.
• Mulch is a “lazy” way to retain moisture and is actually very accommodating to pill bugs and other pests. Noey suggests turning the soil manually (once the top layer hardens after watering) to mix in the varying soil components already present in a garden.
• Although the term “organic” and its practices have become somewhat main-stream, its introduction into pop culture should be considered a victory for proponents of sustainability. Despite the fact that many organic farms plant monocrops and rely heavily on plastic sheeting to retain moisture/inhibit weed growth, these industrial organic farms still must follow important organic guidelines, such as:
o No synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides
o Transparency in use of approved soil amendments (updated records)
o No ionizing radiation
o No bioengineered seeds
o Utilization of renewable resources
o Water and soil conservation practices
The next morning, before embarking on an eighty-mile cycle, we volunteered a few hours working on two projects preparing the farm for the winter:
• We helped build a greenhouse for saplings that is not only strong but also flexible, so that it can sustain winter winds. The simple materials involved (many of which were salvaged for re-use) are mostly available at Howlands, and we expect to utilize these new skills for our own garden program at Catalina.
• Another group helped de-string the support structures for tomato plants in order to prepare the plot for winter crops. Vetch and beans will be planted as cover crops to maintain nutrient-rich soil before the spring planting.
Surrounded by corporate farms that invade entire landscapes, the family-owned and operated organic farm was a beautiful breath of fresh air. “The Garden Of” farm represents what farming used to be: a relationship between farmer and environment that celebrates natural cycles and strives for limited human impact. Our cheery, welcoming hosts were testament to the ethic that organic farming supports—feeding healthy food to people who promote a healthy planet.
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