Blog
“D” IS FOR DIVERSITY
Diversity is a loaded term in sustainable agriculture. We see it being significant in two ways: biological diversity and demographic diversity. The first, commonly referred to as “Bio-Diversity,” is a foundation of sustainable agriculture. According to Bioversity...
“C” IS FOR CROP ROTATION
Crop rotation is a practice that has been practiced for centuries. However, the concept of letting fields lay fallow didn’t come about until the 11th century, when farmers finally adopted the three plot planting system. This was also due, in part, to developments of...
“B” IS FOR BIODYNAMICS
According to the Biodynamic Association, "Biodynamics is a holistic, ecological and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food and nutrition." Rudolf Steiner, and Austrian writer and educator, developed the philosophy by combining his observations of the environment...
“A” IS FOR AQUAPONICS
Most simply, aquaponics… “is the marriage of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants) that grows fish and plants together in one integrated system. The fish waste provides an organic food source for the growing plants and the plants...
Spring farm stories
In the late spring we had some new tools from Johnny's Select Seeds and I thought I sensed a yearning from Molly to get out there and use them. She very methodically stretched some string from one end of the row in the other in the tunnel so she would have straight...
Wood Violet Birch Syrup
By Hans Hansen It's a bit early to tap birch or harvest violets but that time is not far away. I had an idea of combining the hues and flavors of birch and violets in a syrup, that I have not tried but don't see any reason why it wouldn't work. This came to me while I...
River Birch (Betula nigra)
By Hans Hansen Native bounty Texan's don't hear much about. River Birch is a handsome multifunction all-zone permaculture tree that deserves more attention. Farmers in northern regions tap both Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), and from several species of Birch. Birch...
Storing Baby Ginger
By Hans Hansen This covers a few details I missed in our discussion (presentation at Blackwood) yesterday about storing and using stored baby ginger. Keep in mind that baby ginger is quite different, more delicate/tender and fruit/vegetable-like, than the ginger most...
Vegan soil fertility?
By Hans Hansen Not for my Paleo or Weston Price leaning gardener and farmer friends but it's entirely possible. A student of one of our soil workshops held a few weeks ago posed an interesting challenge to consider. The student had been on a macrobiotic diet for...
Pulling the conceptual framework of a high tunnel out of the box
By Hans Hansen A question posed in the high tunnel presentation I gave at Bioneers 2014 Conference (November 2). What is a high tunnel? What distinguishes a high tunnel from a greenhouse? The answer to this question depends on who is asked… (high tunnels aka...
A Hands-on Lesson in Soil pH
By Hans Hansen As an organic grower for nearly 3 decades, if I had to point to one topic of knowledge where organics started to work for me in a practical way it’s when I began to fully grasp the nature and power of soil. More specifically, organics began to work for...
Native Fall Season Bounty – Permaculture Zones 3 – 5
By Hans Hansen Temperatures finally slipped into a cool glide this week, along with a soaking rain that brought a vibrant green to pastures and landscapes, perhaps one last time. Cruising the country roads of Montgomery, Waller, Washington and Austin Counties, I...
