As #NewHampshire summers grow drier, farmers evolve to cope

by Molly Rains, September 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM EDT

Excerpt: "Some more analog farming techniques are also crucial for drought resilience, Mathur said. A foundational element of soil health is related to how much organic material it contains, a measure boosted by additives like #compost, #manure, or #CoverCrops. In addition to adding nutrients to the soil, these materials also cling to water, helping keep soil damp and cool in times of limited rainfall, she said.

"Once organic materials are present in the soil, they can be retained for longer with methods like #NoTill farming or #ReducedTill farming, in which farmers refrain as much as possible from plowing their fields. Chewing up a field before planting a crop adds air to the soil, fueling the decomposition of the important organic matter within, Delisle said. While no-till and reduced-till farming isn’t a good fit for every crop, he added, many New Hampshire farmers have had success using the method with the common local crops of corn and pumpkins.

"Preserving the organic matter in New Hampshire’s soil is important not only in times of drought but also, Delisle said, in times of heavy rain and flooding, when farm equipment can compress fields. This compacts the soil and makes it less hospitable to plants.

" 'Soils with higher organic matter in them have the capacity to spring back once they’re pressed down, and that’s an important factor in the resiliency of that soil,' Delisle said."

Learn more:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/hampshire-summers-grow-drier-farmers-090040658.html

#SolarPunkSunday
#ClimateChangeAgriculture
#ClimateChange #Composting #ClimateChangeAdaptation #Resiliency

Favorieten van dit moment 🔥 #BloemEnOogst #zaden #zaadteelt #biologisch #bloemzaden #slowflowers #selecties #zadenvanhier #kwekerij #RegenerativeAgriculture #NoDig #NoTill

The little tiny no-dig/no-till garden of my dreams. This is years and years of study, reflection, and contemplation in the making.

To get it started we cut the sod off as shallow as possible and then added mulch about a foot deep in the 16' x 16' area and let it sit for a couple of weeks. Then we dug out some of the mulch to make trenches where we wanted garden beds and filled them with organic compost from a local business. I then seeded all the beds with a fall cover crop mix that will feed the soil all winter. We'll also get some shallots and garlic planted later this year.

We are off grid with no easy access to running water so the mulch will drastically reduce the amount of watering we'll have to do. It holds moisture really well while the compost is tilthy and deep enough to let the roots breathe and reach for moisture as they need it.

The garden cost around $150 to put together. The fence is just T-post and chicken wire. We have coyotes around so not a lot of small animal pressure and this size is too small for deer to want to jump in.

The left side is a large trellis made of 2 cattle panels where we're growing hops. The gate to enter is a scrap of cattle panel with bent prongs as hinges.

We built these beds and sowed cover crop in time with the biodynamic calendar where the waxing moon was in the constellation Capricorn, an earth element of rooting influence.

#gardening #garden #NoTill #NoDig #organic #biodynamicgardening #soilheath #4thesoil

What's the best way to boost organic matter in soil, aka lock up carbon to counter #climatechange?

Plus soil fertility and resilience to drought!

*mulch (not stone or gravel)
* don't till
*cover crops
* leave lawn clippings and leaves
* replace lawn with clover
* replace annuals with perennials
*compost everything
*let wetlands be wetlands

What am I missing? Please add your ideas!

#compost #soil #climateaction #NoTill #sustainability #ag #permaculture

#SustainableAgriculture research tour planned for July 16 at #UMaine farm in #OldTownME

June 30, 2025

Old Town, Maine — "University of Maine Cooperative Extension will hold its annual Sustainable Agriculture Research Tour on Wednesday, July 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the UMaine #RogersFarm Forage and Crop Research Facility, 914 Bennoch Rd., Old Town and the nearby #WymansWildBlueberry Research Center.

"The event is geared toward #farmers, crop advisors and others interested in #agricultural production. Faculty and staff from UMaine’s School of Food and Agriculture and #UMaineExtension will present their field research on a variety of crops. Specific topics will include #organic #NoTill dry #bean production methods, soil health demonstrations, #CimateChange effects on wild blueberries, #agroforestry and variety trials for #forage #legumes and #potatoes.

"This event is free and pre-registration is not required. Participants will receive two pesticide certification credits and 3.5 CCA credits. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. For a detailed announcement visit the event webpage.

"Rogers Farm and Wyman’s Wild Blueberry Research Center are two of several facilities across the state that comprise the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station.

"For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Thomas Molloy at thomas.molloy@maine.edu.

About University of Maine Cooperative Extension:

"As a trusted resource for over 100 years, Extension has supported UMaine’s #LandAndSeaGrant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension seeks to build thriving communities and grow the food-based economy, focusing on aspects from production and processing to nutrition, food safety and food security. Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H which offers hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and civic engagement and creates a positive environment where participants are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles."

FMI:
https://extension.umaine.edu/2025/06/30/sustainable-agriculture-research-tour-2/

#SolarPunkSunday #RegenerativeAgriculture #Sustainability #FarmingInMaine #ClimateChangeFarming

This was my first time trying a cover crop for weed suppression in the garden, and I think it's been a success!

My lazy method was to let some volunteer grass grow tall here over the winter and strim it when it had green seeds, around the end of March. Then I covered it with a tarp until it was time to plant beans in mid May. This spot previously had frequent mullein, herb robert, and grasses.

#gardening #WeedManagement #SoilBuilding #CoverCrops #NoTill

7/9 Important takeaways/disclaimers: woodchips had been worked into the soil initially with a plough and/or a rotary harrow (I cannot remember, sorry!) as the system won't integrate the chips quickly enough otherwise. For the rest, they were working with #NoTill methods, using a roller-crimper to controll weeds and destroy green manures so that the soil-microbiology remains intact. Last but not least: it's very warm there and the soils receive irrigation which leads to a high microbial activity throughout the year. If and how it works under more Northern conditions remains to be seen (in fact, I will start a small pilot trial on my own farm this year!)

@captainfutura die Böden sind auch durch mechanische Bearbeitung und schwere Maschinen oft so kaputt, dass diese das Wasser kaum noch aufnehmen können.

#NoTill-Landwirtschaft scheint sich hierzulande bislang leider eher nicht so durchzusetzen, da man dafür in aller Regel auf Herbizide, wie z. B. das "böse Glyphosat" zurückgreifen müsste, auch wenn man damit letztlich die Biodiversität gegenüber den sonst ökologisch quasi toten Agrarflächen oft drastisch erhöhen könnte. 😩

#Direktsaat

@potterybyosa Seedling photographs are easy compared to a no-till or no-dig photograph. Charles Dowding of the UK has decades of no-dig experience he has shared. I understand the older material is less capitalist. I happy to share our Minnesota no-dig experience. Which often leads to someone with more experience. #nodig, #notill, #compost.

@potterybyosa Yes. Hello Florida. This Minnesota vegetable garden has been no dig and no till for twenty years. All the weed suppression is from harvesting lawn clippings, leaf mulch, compost, cardboard, and in recent years wheat straw poultry bedding. The earthworms eat the mulch improving the garden soil quality. The rain drops don’t directly strike the soil. It’s a good cycle. #nodig, #notill, #gardening

emptying out a hand full of bags of potting mix into the garden and declaring myself the leader of the #notill movement

Ooooh...! Some really cool tips here! Well-thought out!

#ClimateChangeGardening: 12 strategies for a #resilient #garden

by Niki Jabbour

"#ClimateChange gardening is a set of tactics that make our yards and gardens more resilient to extreme weather as well as reduce our personal impacts on the climate. There are several ways to approach climate change gardening. You can use sustainable and organic gardening practices that put soil, #biodiversity, and #pollinators first. You can also plan to reduce plastic waste, up-cycle materials, and collect #rainwater.

3 reasons to care about climate change gardening

"Climate change gardening influences the health and success of your garden. When you nurture your soil, foster biodiversity, and support pollinators you create a garden that is more resilient to the challenges of climate change. Here are 3 reasons to care about climate change gardening.

- Extreme weather – The impact of weather related challenges like droughts, storms, precipitation, flooding, and above or below normal temperatures can be reduced with climate change gardening strategies.
- Pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects – Climate change can affect pollinators and birds in various ways. Weather extremes can impact migration timing and success, host plant growth and bloom time, disease and pest issues, and habitat and food supply.
- Non-native invasive pests and plants – With a longer growing season, invasive plants, pests, and diseases will move north and potentially affect plant health and crop yields."

Read more [tips include #NoTill gardening]:
https://savvygardening.com/climate-change-gardening/
#ClimateChange #GardenGuidance #ClimateChangeGardening #Resiliency #GardenGuides #SolarPunkSunday #FoodSecurity #WaterManagement #PestManagement

Spring is here and so the ritual begins...

#homestead #garden #growyourown #eatyourveggies #acadianacreafarm #capebreton #canada #novascotia #downdacove #regenerativefarming #NoTill

Hi #Mexico,

Do you know any farms or collectives that practise #permaculture, #NoTill or #VeganicFarming (one can hope!) anywhere in the country? Please let me know.

Starting in March, I plan to volunteer at farms, learn permaculture techniques for different climates, and continue working on my Spanish.

I'm aware of @AgroecologyMap and plan to sign up on WWOOF. Are there other relevant resources?

@Broadfork. The November garden is thick with healthy green plants. It is an example of green manures. How much trouble is couch grass? We have troubles with quack grass with long underground runners and some maintenance for nutsedge. The Minnesota comfrey is chopped for the season. #notill, #gardening, #minnesota

I challenge anyone to try this and tell me you don't figure out who's lost their damn mind's real damn quick.
#NoTill #NoDig #Permaculture

The gardening method I like best for the back yard, where it's not about native plants, as the front is.

https://youtu.be/hfBSgHgcSc4?si=tFcl5ZXaSGUlOI8t

#LazyGardening #NoTill #mycelium #composting

Seeds and Soil Farm is focused on regenerative agriculture, ecological gardening and bio intensive farming practices. Building healthy soil, creating nutritious local food and saving viable seed is where we place our energy.

https://agroecologymap.org/locations/seeds-and-soil-farm-palmer-alaska

#agroecology #agroecologia #agroécologie #permaculture #permacultura #agroforestry #agrofloresta #agroforesterie #notill #ecological #gardening #biointensive #organic #foodsecurity #organicfood #soil #healthysoil #regenerative #seed #alaska

But the truth is, if you can chop and drop (and cover) and get away with it, do that. It's way better than disrupting the soil. 🤓🍃
#permaculture #notill #foodforest