A raised bed system provides numerous advantages: 1) better drainage; 2) the soil warms more quickly in the spring; 3) the soil is not compacted because it is not walked on or rolled over; and 4) higher yields per square foot because loosened soil allows roots to grow down instead of out, which means a higher density of crops can be grown in a given area.

Using raised beds allows us to intensively space crops to reduce weed pressure. Along with floating row cover and insect netting, these methods are our main defense against insects. This means that we can avoid applying herbicides and pesticides (as long as you can handle the occasional hole in your greens!).

We do our best to avoid tilling, as it breaks down soil structure and brings dormant weed seeds to the surface. Instead, we use a broadfork to add oxygen deep into the soil and a harrow that stirs the top couple inches of soil instead of turning it over. These methods are meant to create more space in the soil to promote biodiversity.

Local compost is applied to boost organic matter in the soil and promote diversity. Adding high-quality compost may also aid in suppressing plant diseases and increasing pest resistance!

With our intensive system it’s rare that bed space isn’t occupied, but we incorporate cover crops whenever possible. Our goals with cover cropping are to protect against erosion, add nutrients and biomass to the soil, and smother weeds.

We send off soil samples to be tested annually. This helps inform how we amend our soil. We also use it to see how we’re doing at improving our soil health. More specifically, we are trying to increase organic matter content and improve deficiencies of key macro- and micronutrients.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! That saying is important in a sustainable farming context, as we want to have a resilient system. By rotating crops and growing multiple varieties of each, we are try to have a better line of defense against disease build-up, total crop loss, and out-of-hand pest problems.