We have had solar panels on our farm since 2012, so I look at whether panels can be recycled and whether they harm farmland.

Why leaves, branches, and other material on the forest floor are not waste, and how keeping them in place helps soil, water, and forest health.

A look at ways to add helpful microbes to soil and compost, including worm castings, IMO, JADAM, biodynamic preparations, and the Johnson-Su bioreactor.

The key differences between compost tea, worm-casting tea, extracts, and leachate, including how each one is made and how it is used in the garden.

Wood stove ashes and charcoal can help a garden when used with care, and I cover the benefits, the risks, and the best ways to use them.

Not all compost is the same, so I compare composting methods and the risks to watch for, like persistent herbicides, runoff, and contamination.

How to turn fallen autumn leaves into leaf mold, a rich, crumbly compost, and how to build the pile, turn it, and use it in the garden.

The main differences between conventional, organic, and regenerative farming, in their practices, their goals, and their effects on soil and the food system.

Incorporating wood chips into your garden paths and around trees in a food forest offers numerous benefits, from improving soil health to supporting a diverse ecosystem. While there are some challenges, such as potential nitrogen immobilization and pest attraction, these can be managed with proper application and maintenance. By understanding the advantages and considerations, you can effectively use wood chips to create a thriving, sustainable garden environment.

Sheet mulching, or lasagna gardening, layers organic material to build soil and block weeds, and I cover how to do it and which cardboard to avoid.

Mycorrhizal fungi team up with plant roots, and I explain how they help plants and trees grow, especially when you transplant them.

Transplanting ecosystems using an excavator is an innovative approach to pond management and ecological restoration. By carefully moving entire communities from one pond's marginal zone to another, we can foster rapid ecosystem development and create vibrant, self-sustaining habitats.

By understanding and implementing these zones and principles, you can create a thriving freshwater pond system that supports wildlife, enhances the landscape, and meets your ecological and practical goals.

A well-designed pond not only provides a haven for wildlife but also offers practical benefits like water conservation, flood control, wildfire management, and a place of beauty and tranquility for generations to enjoy.

Leaving soil bare after a harvest can have numerous negative consequences, including soil erosion, nutrient loss, compaction, weed infestation, and reduced soil organic matter and microbial activity. Cover crops offer a solution to these problems by protecting the soil, enhancing its health, and improving agricultural sustainability.

Cover crops are a powerful tool for building soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and improving farm sustainability. By understanding how they work and the importance of diverse seed mixtures, farmers and gardeners can unlock the full potential of cover crops to create healthier, more productive soils.

How organic fungicides work against black rot in grapevines, how to use them as part of a wider plan, and how to limit their side effects.

A tour of how our ponds, swales, canals, sediment collection, and natural cleaning systems work together to manage water and support wildlife on our property.

A step-by-step guide to sheet mulching with cardboard and organic layers, plus tips for choosing safe cardboard for your garden beds.

Living Fences, Hedge Rows, and Farmscaping: Benefits and Challenges

In the world of sustainable agriculture and landscape design, the concepts of permaculture and farmscaping play crucial roles in creating productive, resilient ecosystems. While they share common goals, these approaches also have distinct principles and practices. This article will delve into the similarities and differences between permaculture and farmscaping, and explore how living fences and hedge rows fit into these frameworks.