Wooleylot Farm is located near Coudersport, Pennsylvania. We offer garlic and a select basket of other specialty crops – such as fingerling potatoes. We farm without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides and without GMOs since we began farming in 2007.
We began by growing vegetables in a garden. We expanded operations up to 3 acres of small farm tillage. We have always followed "organic" practices. These spell out an organic production system based on conservation and improvement of the soil and critically--the organic matter. All products used in production need to follow organic guidelines and independently approved; field histories are required for three prior years, including crops planted, amendments used, when and in what quantities. Soil amendments and fertilizers are naturally occurring and not chemically altered or synthetic. We Scroll down to learn more....
We began by growing vegetables in a garden. We expanded operations up to 3 acres of small farm tillage. We have always followed "organic" practices. These spell out an organic production system based on conservation and improvement of the soil and critically--the organic matter. All products used in production need to follow organic guidelines and independently approved; field histories are required for three prior years, including crops planted, amendments used, when and in what quantities. Soil amendments and fertilizers are naturally occurring and not chemically altered or synthetic. We Scroll down to learn more....
Farming over the Years
Did you know that 100 years ago, all farming in this county used organic methods? Chemical “Assisted” farming was then introduced in the 1940’s and promoted as a better way to grow food and yield a larger harvest. Since then, chemical farming has become known as “conventional farming” because a newer farming method with GMOs has begun. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have had their genetic makeup altered. The genetic makeup is changed to create “herbicide-resistant” crops or to allow the plant to produce its own pesticides.
Organic Farming
Traditional, Natural, Holistic, Bio-dynamic, Sustainable and has an appreciation for building healthy soils and not ruining the environment. Healthy and wholesome food for thousands of years. Started with the first village settlements thousands of years ago. "Organic Farming" was coined by Robert Rodale, in mid 1940's. Started the Back To The Land movement. Farms and environment as whole system. What is happening in the soil? The first organic certification agencies opened in the early 1970's. The USDA started doing organic certification in 2001. |
Chemical "Assisted"
Conventional, Intensive Farming, Factory Farming that uses man-made synthetics and poisons to help farms increase the yield. 1. In theory, highly productive farms with stable food supply 2. In practice that goal is not being realized as pests and weeds become resistant to the chemicals being used. 3. Beneficial insects, such as the bee pollinators are being killed. 4. Harmful effects on the human body from use of pesticides, heavy metals and growth hormones. Farming without the use of chemicals was the sole option for farmers until post-World War II. War technologies and petroleum-based. For example, ammonium nitrate used for munitions evolved into fertilizer; nerve gas production led to the development of insecticides. The EPA estimates that the use of pesticides doubled between 1960 and 1980. Today, 900 active chemical pesticides are used to manufacture 40,000 commercial preparations. 372 million kilograms a year are used in the US, with over 1.8 billion kilograms (2 million ton) a year used worldwide. |
GMO "Assisted"
Frankenfood that uses Biotechnology to help farms cut down on the amount of chemicals a farmer needs to spray. But it has concerns: 1. Are GMOs Safe? 2. Consumer push-back. 3. Non-GMO crop contamination. 4. Non-GMO counties not allowing US exports. 5. Political fights and lawsuits… Used since the 1980’s, GMO crops have been planted extensively in the US and Canada for a little over a decade. The most common GM crops are: * Soy * Corn * Cotton * Canola |
Is your farm produce organic or naturally grown? Are your vegetables grown using environmentally friendly and sustainable farming practices? Are your farm’s marketing claims supported by certification? These are important questions that each farmer needs to consider before bringing produce to the marketplace. These questions relate to fair-marketing of farm produce using labels, web sites, brochures and other point-of-sale materials to highlight value-added farming practices. Did you ever wonder, what happened to bring about all of these marketing and labeling questions?
Well sometime ago, small farmers realized that using sustainable agriculture practices were not only good for the farm’s soil and environment, but customers preferred fresh, traditionally grown foods and were willing to pay more for them. This organic movement led some large-commercial growers to use false claims to get higher price for their conventionally grown food. As a result, it was decided that government standards were needed in order to regulate how “organic” labeling is used in the marketplace so as to protect consumers from false claims. So the National Organic Program came to be, along with all the many organizations necessary to gain and maintain this certification. A Small Farmer Exemption for farmers with yearly gross sales less than $5,000 was given. However, many small farmers have determined that the added-value of a USDA-Accredited Certification is not worth having considering the cost and time to administer paperwork.
The Certified Naturally Grown program brings the small farmer “grass-root” movement full circle. CNG is a non-profit alternate certification program created for small-scale organic farmers. CNG standards are based on the USDA National Organic Program standards. It minimizes paperwork and fees, and employs a simpler peer-review (farmer-to-farmer) inspection. It is designed to maintain the long-standing trust between the small farmer and consumers of small-farm products without the costs and bureaucracy of the USDA-administered program.
The Food Alliance is another third-party certification for environmental responsible farmers using sustainability agricultural practices. Food Alliance certification is not intended to duplicate the USDA-Accredited Certification program nor the CNG. Instead, this certification is designed to provide a basis for marketplace claims of being environmentally and socially responsibility.
Which of these certifications, if any are best? It is up to the farmer to decide. Farmers selling at the ‘grass-root’ level directly to customers at the farm stand, local farmer markets and local grocery stores do not need a rigorous certification program to establish trust. For those who decide to sell regionally at the larger supermarkets, produce auctions and specialty produce and health food stores might benefit from an USDA-Accredited Certification. As always, it is best to do research and get a good understanding of your intended market and then decide what is best for you and your customers.
Well sometime ago, small farmers realized that using sustainable agriculture practices were not only good for the farm’s soil and environment, but customers preferred fresh, traditionally grown foods and were willing to pay more for them. This organic movement led some large-commercial growers to use false claims to get higher price for their conventionally grown food. As a result, it was decided that government standards were needed in order to regulate how “organic” labeling is used in the marketplace so as to protect consumers from false claims. So the National Organic Program came to be, along with all the many organizations necessary to gain and maintain this certification. A Small Farmer Exemption for farmers with yearly gross sales less than $5,000 was given. However, many small farmers have determined that the added-value of a USDA-Accredited Certification is not worth having considering the cost and time to administer paperwork.
The Certified Naturally Grown program brings the small farmer “grass-root” movement full circle. CNG is a non-profit alternate certification program created for small-scale organic farmers. CNG standards are based on the USDA National Organic Program standards. It minimizes paperwork and fees, and employs a simpler peer-review (farmer-to-farmer) inspection. It is designed to maintain the long-standing trust between the small farmer and consumers of small-farm products without the costs and bureaucracy of the USDA-administered program.
The Food Alliance is another third-party certification for environmental responsible farmers using sustainability agricultural practices. Food Alliance certification is not intended to duplicate the USDA-Accredited Certification program nor the CNG. Instead, this certification is designed to provide a basis for marketplace claims of being environmentally and socially responsibility.
Which of these certifications, if any are best? It is up to the farmer to decide. Farmers selling at the ‘grass-root’ level directly to customers at the farm stand, local farmer markets and local grocery stores do not need a rigorous certification program to establish trust. For those who decide to sell regionally at the larger supermarkets, produce auctions and specialty produce and health food stores might benefit from an USDA-Accredited Certification. As always, it is best to do research and get a good understanding of your intended market and then decide what is best for you and your customers.
Sowing Sustainable Seeds
MOTHER EARTH NEWS says “you want to buy from a seed company you can trust.” We purchased from High Mowing Organic Seeds .
Why did we choose High Mowing? One big reason is The Safe Seed Pledge: “Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend … we support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthy people and communities.”
We have listed some of our favorite seed companies:
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
955 Benton Avenue
Winslow, ME 04901
Tel: 207-861-3900
Email: [email protected]
www.johnnyseeds.com
The Maine Potato Lady
PO Box 65
Guilford, ME 04443
Tel: 207-343-2270
www.mainepotatolady.com
Wood Prairie Farm Organic Seed Potatoes
49 Kinney Rd
Bridgewater, ME 04735
Tel: 800-829-9765
www.woodprarie.com
High Mowing Organic Seeds
76 Quarry Road
Wolcott, VT 05680
Tel: 802-472-6174
Email: [email protected]
www.highmowingseeds.com
Why did we choose High Mowing? One big reason is The Safe Seed Pledge: “Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend … we support agricultural progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately healthy people and communities.”
We have listed some of our favorite seed companies:
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
955 Benton Avenue
Winslow, ME 04901
Tel: 207-861-3900
Email: [email protected]
www.johnnyseeds.com
The Maine Potato Lady
PO Box 65
Guilford, ME 04443
Tel: 207-343-2270
www.mainepotatolady.com
Wood Prairie Farm Organic Seed Potatoes
49 Kinney Rd
Bridgewater, ME 04735
Tel: 800-829-9765
www.woodprarie.com
High Mowing Organic Seeds
76 Quarry Road
Wolcott, VT 05680
Tel: 802-472-6174
Email: [email protected]
www.highmowingseeds.com
Organic Pest Control
Weeds are bound to occur on a healthy, organic farm. We do not prevent weeds by repeated use of weed killing herbicides, but instead we control the weed pressure to a tolerable level.
Organic weed control methods are:
An important strategy for getting ahead of annual weeds is to use cover crops. Annuals Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and Idagold Mustard (Sinapus alba) are planted as smother crops to prevent weeds from flourishing in the tilled soil. These specialized cover crops also provide organic matter or “Green Manure”. It is very important to mow and incorporate these cover crops before the plants set seed to prevent re-growth in next season’s cash crop.
Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of dissimilar types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons. Our farm is using crop rotation to minimize pest build-up. In any give year, we will have about an acre in each main crop and an acre year with only cover crops. We’re also using some techniques to help deal with these pests without drenching the Earth in toxic pesticides. So, what is it that we are doing instead? First we keep all of the crops healthy with foliage sprays of liquid fish and compost teas. Then, we scout for pests. When pests arrive, we apply diatomaceous Earth and Soy oil/Soap Nut Powder treatments. These are harmless to humans and the plants but dangerous to pests with waxy coatings on their exoskeleton. We are careful not to over-use it because these natural sprays are also dangerous to the bees. We prefer not to apply after crop bloom to avoid spraying the pollinating bees.
We plant the attractive-flowering buckwheat perimeters to lure the pests away from the interior areas of crop growth while also attracting the pest’s natural enemies. Also, some bugs exhibit “edge effect” behavior when moving through the landscape. In this way, these bugs only do damage at the borders in the trap crop outer perimeter.
Helpful Tips:
Organic weed control methods are:
- tillage
- mowing
- mulches
- cover crops
- crop rotations
- hand pulling
An important strategy for getting ahead of annual weeds is to use cover crops. Annuals Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and Idagold Mustard (Sinapus alba) are planted as smother crops to prevent weeds from flourishing in the tilled soil. These specialized cover crops also provide organic matter or “Green Manure”. It is very important to mow and incorporate these cover crops before the plants set seed to prevent re-growth in next season’s cash crop.
Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of dissimilar types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons. Our farm is using crop rotation to minimize pest build-up. In any give year, we will have about an acre in each main crop and an acre year with only cover crops. We’re also using some techniques to help deal with these pests without drenching the Earth in toxic pesticides. So, what is it that we are doing instead? First we keep all of the crops healthy with foliage sprays of liquid fish and compost teas. Then, we scout for pests. When pests arrive, we apply diatomaceous Earth and Soy oil/Soap Nut Powder treatments. These are harmless to humans and the plants but dangerous to pests with waxy coatings on their exoskeleton. We are careful not to over-use it because these natural sprays are also dangerous to the bees. We prefer not to apply after crop bloom to avoid spraying the pollinating bees.
We plant the attractive-flowering buckwheat perimeters to lure the pests away from the interior areas of crop growth while also attracting the pest’s natural enemies. Also, some bugs exhibit “edge effect” behavior when moving through the landscape. In this way, these bugs only do damage at the borders in the trap crop outer perimeter.
Helpful Tips:
- Crop rotations are used to prevent an increase in the pest population over time.
- Plant the trap crops (such as Buckwheat) so that it completely encircles the main crop without any large gaps in the perimeter
- Plant the trap crop in good soil so that it grows healthy to resist the pests. Plant the trap crop at the same time as (or before) the main crop.
- Multiple trap crop rows may be needed if extreme pest pressure is expected, or along tree lines where the heaviest pest pressure usually occurs as pests colonize the fields from overwintering sites in the woods.
- Treat the plants as soon as the first pests appear and begin to feed on the crop. Do not wait for the pests to colonize the crop.
Organic Soil Amendments
Soil nutrient management is the control of crop fertility and other
production practices for efficient crop growth and water quality protection.
Nutrient management plans are site-specific to minimize undesired environmental
effects while optimizing farm profits and production. Soil testing is the agronomists map to supplying the best blended fertilizer for our soil type and for our specific crops. To get our garlic farm soil fertility optimized, we have had micro-nutrient soil tests performed by A&L EASTERN LABORATORIES, INC., 7621 Whitepine Road Richmond VA 23237, (see website at www.al-labs-eastern.com). Based on these micro-nutrient soil test results, customized soil amendments are being incorporated for our garlic production. The following organic amendments are being used:
Bulk Aged Manure: This is the best all-around organic fertilizer and soil building product. Manure is far superior to any other form of organic matter for use in building the soil. Aged manure is organic matter that is rotted and broken down into an unidentifiable form. Compost contains many nutrients and therefore is a fertilizer. It also contains organic matter, enzymes, vitamins and living organisms to build a healthy soil foodweb. The soil foodweb is the set of organisms that work underground to help plants grow. There are billions of organisms that make up the soil foodweb. These include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods and earthworms. Each type of organism plays an important role in keeping the soil healthy for all living things.
Aragonite is calcium carbonate mineral (like limestone) that comes from seashells, such as oyster and mollusks shells. Aragonite has approximately 94-97 percent of the neutralizing value of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3). The aragonite is composed of a variety of seashells, gathered from the ocean floor. The seashells are pulverized by the ocean’s waves, the debris settles on the ocean floor and then is harvested.
Natrual Soil amendments are single purpose products that address a specific soil problem or are used in blended fertilizers to overcome major soil deficiencies. Phostrell for calcium and phosphate, Green Potash derived from kelp for potash, Sulfate of Potash for potassium and sulfate, Jersey Greensand contains over 30 trace minerals and Feather Meal for nitrogen. Fertrell carries these soil amendments blended in Certifiable Organic Fertilizers.
Garlic grows best in well-drained, friable (easily crumbled in the hand) soil, with high organic matter content. High organic matter aids in soil water-holding capacity and drainage. Our soil management strategy is to yearly rotate our garlic with one or more cover crops. Cover crops are useful as a soil conditioner and supplement. Bulk manure compost with organic soil amendments in combination with cover crop rotation will be used to provide sufficient nutrients to improve and maintain our soil conditions. No synthetic fertilizers are used.
Organic fertilizers are better than artificial products because they are the derivatives of plants and therefore contain most or all the trace elements that exist in growing plants. Synthetic fertilizers do not have this rounded balance of mineral nutrients.
Bulk Aged Manure: This is the best all-around organic fertilizer and soil building product. Manure is far superior to any other form of organic matter for use in building the soil. Aged manure is organic matter that is rotted and broken down into an unidentifiable form. Compost contains many nutrients and therefore is a fertilizer. It also contains organic matter, enzymes, vitamins and living organisms to build a healthy soil foodweb. The soil foodweb is the set of organisms that work underground to help plants grow. There are billions of organisms that make up the soil foodweb. These include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods and earthworms. Each type of organism plays an important role in keeping the soil healthy for all living things.
Aragonite is calcium carbonate mineral (like limestone) that comes from seashells, such as oyster and mollusks shells. Aragonite has approximately 94-97 percent of the neutralizing value of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3). The aragonite is composed of a variety of seashells, gathered from the ocean floor. The seashells are pulverized by the ocean’s waves, the debris settles on the ocean floor and then is harvested.
Natrual Soil amendments are single purpose products that address a specific soil problem or are used in blended fertilizers to overcome major soil deficiencies. Phostrell for calcium and phosphate, Green Potash derived from kelp for potash, Sulfate of Potash for potassium and sulfate, Jersey Greensand contains over 30 trace minerals and Feather Meal for nitrogen. Fertrell carries these soil amendments blended in Certifiable Organic Fertilizers.
Garlic grows best in well-drained, friable (easily crumbled in the hand) soil, with high organic matter content. High organic matter aids in soil water-holding capacity and drainage. Our soil management strategy is to yearly rotate our garlic with one or more cover crops. Cover crops are useful as a soil conditioner and supplement. Bulk manure compost with organic soil amendments in combination with cover crop rotation will be used to provide sufficient nutrients to improve and maintain our soil conditions. No synthetic fertilizers are used.
Organic fertilizers are better than artificial products because they are the derivatives of plants and therefore contain most or all the trace elements that exist in growing plants. Synthetic fertilizers do not have this rounded balance of mineral nutrients.
Building Soil health
On April 13, 2011, soil samples were collected for the Cornell Soil Health Test from the back field that is planted with this season’s garlic crop. The Cornell soil health test checks the physical, biological and chemical properties of a soil by measuring several key readings. In this posting, we are showing the results along with the “management strategies” to address the soil “constraints”. The Cornell Soil Health Assessment Training Manual describes how to address the common soil health issues in our region. Here are the steps with the soil management solutions that we used on our field:
Step 1. Identify constraints, prioritize
Step 1. Identify constraints, prioritize
- Low pH,
- Subsurface Hardness,
- Low Phosphorus,
- Low Active Carbon,
- Surface Hardness
- Add liming material in repeated applications based on soil tests ,
- Rip the compacted layer,
- Add fertilizer in repeated applications based on soil tests ,
- Add fresh organic matter
- Limit intensive tillage
- Farm fields inactive for more than 20 years prior to 2010.
- Heavy sod with weeds.
- Soil nutrients depleted especially phosphate in these old hay fields.
- Farmer wants to improve soil using only organic amendments.
- New farmer has limited inventory of field equipment.
- Improve pH with Aragonite (seashell flour, 39% calcium, trace minerals, stimulates microbial life)
- Newly purchased OMNI Transformer 3 point Hitch Platform (toolbar) with 3 shank Scarifier (subsoiler for loosening deep hardpan) and 1 shank Mini Ripper (subsoiler for loosening hardpan).
- Fertrell fertilizers (readily available phosphorous, trace minerals, feeds beneficial microbial life)
- Bulk manure and cover cropping (organic matter inputs) and compost tea (boost soil microbes in soil’s food web)
- In short-term limited to crops with a tolerance to low pH soils such as garlic and potatoes.
Soil Test Evolution
In case you missed it, your farmer’s soil test has evolved. It all started out as a test to determine the availability of N-P-K in the soil. These tests had a lot to do with synthetic fertilizers and measured the chemical content of the soil. These numbers represent three different compounds: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash (Potassium). The N-P-K numbers are now on every fertilizer bag label (a government requirement) to give the buyer the percentage of these materials found in the fertilizer.
The soil test has since evolved to account for the dozens of micro-nutrients and other elements that are essential to plant growth such as sulfur, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, magnesium, etc., and the measure of organic matter in the soil. The micro-nutrient soil test better measured the chemical composition in your soil. However, not until very recently, has there been a readily-available soil test to measure the amount of beneficial soil organisms that help your plants to flourish and to fight off pests and diseases. Now you can quickly assess the life in your soil with a qualitative soil test from the Rodale Institute: Soil Life Testing.
To learn more about the history of soil analysis see the Explanation of N-P-K by Clean Air Gardening. It is a great article. In summary, what it says under the Alternatives to Using Fertilizers paragraph is: “You might not need much fertilizer at all in your yard or garden. Here’s why. Many professional gardeners say that little to no additional potassium and phosphorus are needed in our soils as these elements are present already. However, we need to liberate these elements with proper soil aeration, soil drainage, beneficial soil organisms, etc.”.
The soil test has since evolved to account for the dozens of micro-nutrients and other elements that are essential to plant growth such as sulfur, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, magnesium, etc., and the measure of organic matter in the soil. The micro-nutrient soil test better measured the chemical composition in your soil. However, not until very recently, has there been a readily-available soil test to measure the amount of beneficial soil organisms that help your plants to flourish and to fight off pests and diseases. Now you can quickly assess the life in your soil with a qualitative soil test from the Rodale Institute: Soil Life Testing.
To learn more about the history of soil analysis see the Explanation of N-P-K by Clean Air Gardening. It is a great article. In summary, what it says under the Alternatives to Using Fertilizers paragraph is: “You might not need much fertilizer at all in your yard or garden. Here’s why. Many professional gardeners say that little to no additional potassium and phosphorus are needed in our soils as these elements are present already. However, we need to liberate these elements with proper soil aeration, soil drainage, beneficial soil organisms, etc.”.
A good sense of humus
In November of 2011, we attended a soil workshop at The Rodale Institute near Kutztown, Pennsylvania. This Institute is a 333-acre working farm with research trials to promote sustainable farming techniques. The workshop agenda covered some of our favorite subjects including soil health, soil life and cover crops. The highlight of the event was the presentation by The Rodale Institute’s chief scientist, Dr. Elaine Ingham. At the core of her discussion was understanding of the soil food web and the soil microbes (beneficial bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes). The soil food web is the community of organisms that lives in the soil. Organic matter is the primary food source for the soil microbes. She covered the benefits of compost tea including its production and application. By applying compost tea, we can boost the number and diversity of the soil microbes in our soil’s food web to the benefit of the growing crops. To summarize, the workshop lesson was that a healthy soil is teeming with life and this soil food web creates good crop health and growth.
As a result of participating in the workshop, we began a compost tea program on our farm . We decided to learn how to brew an ”aerated” tea compost for use as part of our soil nutrient plan. We completed construction of our own 55-gallon compost tea brewer. By altering the tea recipe, one can control the fungi to bacteria ratio of the teas and by ”aerating” the tea batch in the tea brewer one can create favorable conditions for the growth of these beneficial microorganisms. Of course, success is mostly a result of starting with really good compost. For the demonstration, we used composted worm castings (about 1 cup per gallon of water) and blackstrap molasses (about 1 teaspoon per gallon of water). For aeration we use a 50 watt outdoor Air Pump which can deliver up to 2.5 cubic feet of air per minute. The compost tea is a watery extract of plant soluble nutrients and microorganisms derived from the compost by the brewing process. It looks very much like brewed black tea; hence the name. The tea is dark brown tea-like color and odorless. It is not at all unpleasant. We applied the freshly brewed compost tea as a foliar feeding to the vegetable plants using a Chapin 4-Gal. Backpack Sprayer.
Use compost tea to:
A good farmer is nothing more nor less than a handy man with a sense of humus.~ Elwyn Brooks White
As a result of participating in the workshop, we began a compost tea program on our farm . We decided to learn how to brew an ”aerated” tea compost for use as part of our soil nutrient plan. We completed construction of our own 55-gallon compost tea brewer. By altering the tea recipe, one can control the fungi to bacteria ratio of the teas and by ”aerating” the tea batch in the tea brewer one can create favorable conditions for the growth of these beneficial microorganisms. Of course, success is mostly a result of starting with really good compost. For the demonstration, we used composted worm castings (about 1 cup per gallon of water) and blackstrap molasses (about 1 teaspoon per gallon of water). For aeration we use a 50 watt outdoor Air Pump which can deliver up to 2.5 cubic feet of air per minute. The compost tea is a watery extract of plant soluble nutrients and microorganisms derived from the compost by the brewing process. It looks very much like brewed black tea; hence the name. The tea is dark brown tea-like color and odorless. It is not at all unpleasant. We applied the freshly brewed compost tea as a foliar feeding to the vegetable plants using a Chapin 4-Gal. Backpack Sprayer.
Use compost tea to:
- Rebuild soil structure and improve drainage
- Stimulate root growth and seedling vigor
- Reduce transplant shock
- Stimulate flowering and fruit set
- Encourage growth in stressed plants
- Protect plants from insects and diseases
A good farmer is nothing more nor less than a handy man with a sense of humus.~ Elwyn Brooks White
Farm soil research
Did you ever wonder what is in a handful of soil? The field scientists from the Rodale Institute can answer that question for us. They have visited Wooleylot Farm at Odin, Pennsylvania as part of an study to determine carbon content of the soil. Soil samples were collected in the soil corer and then were split into distinct soil horizons and transported to a lab for further analysis.
Why is carbon of such an interest? It is widely accepted that the carbon content of soil is a major factor in its overall health. The soil scientists tells us that carbon improves the physical properties of soil. It increases the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and water-holding capacity of sandy soil and it contributes to the structural stability of clay soils by helping to bind particles into aggregates. Soil organic matter, of which carbon is a major part, holds a great proportion of nutrients, cations and trace elements that are of importance to plant growth. It prevents nutrient leaching and is integral to the organic acids that make minerals available to plants. It also buffers soil from strong changes in pH. [1]
Here’s what Wooleylot Farm is doing:
Why is carbon of such an interest? It is widely accepted that the carbon content of soil is a major factor in its overall health. The soil scientists tells us that carbon improves the physical properties of soil. It increases the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and water-holding capacity of sandy soil and it contributes to the structural stability of clay soils by helping to bind particles into aggregates. Soil organic matter, of which carbon is a major part, holds a great proportion of nutrients, cations and trace elements that are of importance to plant growth. It prevents nutrient leaching and is integral to the organic acids that make minerals available to plants. It also buffers soil from strong changes in pH. [1]
Here’s what Wooleylot Farm is doing:
- Cover cropping to keep the soil from being over-exposed to the environment (sun/air/wind) and to provide organic matter as “green manure” inputs.
- Input of bulk manure compost for organic matter.
- Use of “sub-soiler” and “soil-ripper” tools instead of plows and tillers to prepare the soil for planting as much as possible.
- Use of natural fertilizers instead of “chemical” fertilizers.
- Crop rotations as part of a sustainable farming practice.
- Soil tests to establish a soil nutrient management plan.
- Riparian Buffer to protect environmentally sensitive land on the farm.