How Do Farmer’s Create Nutrient-Dense Soil?
One of the most important steps in growing food for Pat Herbert of Herbert Family Organic Farm is spreading his homemade compost over his 68 acres at the end of the harvest season. Last week after the last of winter squashes were picked up from the fields and the remnants worked in to the ground, Pat set out to cover the land with this nutrient-dense ‘dirt’ as the last step of his annual farming routine before he puts the beds to rest for the winter.
Controlled Microbial Composting is a mouthful and if you aren’t of the scientific mind, the phrase can seem daunting. Listening to Pat explain what this recipe contains and its purpose is well worth enduring for the simple fact that while there are many theories and methods of making compost, one can easily be convinced this recipe is an important element to why Herbert’s end product – those sweet carrots, extra pungent onions and savory winter squashes – all house extra rich, delicious flavors.
Pat met the founders of this method – the Luebke family of Austria – in 1989 and after learning how they took the basis of biodynamic farming and advanced it, he converted his farm from conventional to certified organic. The compost is made up of straw, yard clippings, dairy manure, cannery waste, and clay soil. All of these play a key role in the process. For example, clay soil is used so the bacteria have something to attach the nutrients to when they are broken down. A lot of water is used to keep the moisture up at 60%.
Many positive results come out of using this method including higher nutrition in the soil, increased organic matter in the soil, the earth’s ability to self-heal is re-established, higher crop yields are produced, yard waste is recycled, less water is needed throughout the growing process, elimination of pest problems occur as you build the soil, and best of all, the aerobic dirt smells like the forest!
Got questions about farming or how Full Circle sources their produce? Let us know in the comments below.