…most vegetables, they do need water, nutrients, and reasonable soil to grow vigorously and get the jump on weeds. Listen to Cathy Isom’s This Land of ours program here. Planting…
Why Give Cover Crops Space in Your Garden
…your garden because they suppress weeds, attract pollinators and add nitrogen to the soil. Cover crops like oilseed or tillage radish can be used to break up compacted soil, with…
Conservation Practices Prove Valuable Despite Early Challenges
…we’ve seen cover crops get planted but they couldn’t get the seed in deep enough and then it rained really hard and drowned it out,” said Priscilla Baker, Soil Conservationist…
Almond Matters: Putting A Postemergence Plan into Action
…they can breakdown preemergent materials at a quicker pace. The most hydrated areas of the soil are going to be where the most microbial activity takes place, lending itself for…
Healthy Soils Program Accepting Proposals for New Practices
Proposals are now being accepted for new soil carbon sequestration practices to be included in the Healthy Soils Program (HSP). The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Environmental…
What to Cross Off Your Gardening To-Do List This Month
…soil ready and deciding exactly what you want to plant. One suggestion, plant tomatoes and peppers as well as pumpkins that you will enjoy in the months ahead. Listen to…
Plants That Will Thrive in Dry Soil
Cathy Isom tells you about all the plants that will thrive in dry soil in today’s This Land of Ours. If your soil is dry, don’t despair. There are plenty…
Growing Better Broccoli May Involve Trial and Error
…spend several seasons learning how to grow it. This is because garden broccoli has more precise cultural requirements compared to other vegetables. On every level – timing, soil fertility, spacing,…
Livestock Grazing Holds Potential Benefits in Organic Systems
…of Maryland Eastern Shore, the University of Minnesota and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The project has two main objectives. “One is on soil quality and soil health…
Growing Your Own Supply of Ramps
…Ramps thrive in low mountain altitudes where there is rich, moist soil, from Georgia to Canada. But it is possible to grow your own ramp patch at home by building…
How to Use Eggshells and Coffee Grounds as Compost
…eggshells by hand even more and sprinkle the mixture across the soil bed. Repeat the process every several months or at the start of a fresh growing season. The important…
The Basics for Building a Flower Bed
…hours each day. Another consideration for building a new flower bed is the soil type. Most flowering annuals and perennials appreciate a loamy soil with plenty of compost added. Once…
CSP Explained: Building Upon Existing Conservation Plans
Many California producers already have a conservation plan established for their operation, which serves as a starting point for many assistance programs offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)….
CSP Explained: Organic Stewardship Mirrors Program Goals
Many aspects of organic stewardship represent the core focus of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Organic growers may find that because of some…