Regenerative agriculture goes beyond merely conserving soil structure and ecology; it actively restores and enhances the health of the soil, ecosystem, and biodiversity. Unlike traditional sustainable practices, it focuses on improving the environment through methods that rebuild soil organic matter, increase carbon sequestration, and enhance water retention, creating a thriving ecosystem for the long term. Key methods include cover cropping, crop rotation, no-till farming, which work together to rejuvenate the land, support biodiversity, and create long-term resilience against climate change.
In our orchard, regenerative practices are used to build and maintain healthy soils, promote biodiversity, and ensure a thriving ecosystem for both plants and wildlife. By minimizing soil disturbance, increasing organic matter, and promoting natural systems, we are able to improve yields. We even use additional fungal spores (VAM) to rebuild soil mycorrhizal networks. Cover crops like dutch clover help maintain the ground cover. Even wildflowers, often mistakenly labeled as weeds, play a vital role in soil conservation.
For balancing the nutritional deficiencies in soil, we focus on natural additions. For example in dense clay rich soils with very little calcium, we use bone meal to enrich the soil. This also helps in loosening up the soil. Short height plants like dandelions, chamomile, daisies, then start to flourish and finally end up creating a self-sustaining soil system. If the soil pH is fine and needs no correction, we use Epsom instead of bonemeal.
Using organic mulches like straw, grass clippings, or wood chips on the soil surface helps conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. As the mulch decomposes, it adds organic matter to the soil, improving its structure.
Integrating trees and shrubs into farming systems improves soil health by increasing organic matter, preventing erosion, and enhancing nutrient cycling. The roots of trees also help anchor the soil and promote biodiversity. (Harmonizing Forestry and Horticulture)
By encouraging natural predators and minimizing pesticide use, IPM supports a healthy soil ecosystem, where beneficial insects, fungi, and microbes thrive, thus reducing soil disruption and promoting nutrient cycling. (Integrated Pest Management (IPM))
Perennial crops, such as fruit trees, berries, and certain vegetables, have deep root systems that improve soil structure and prevent erosion. They require less soil disturbance compared to annual crops, which helps maintain soil health over time. For our planter beds, we prefer to grow plants that continue to yield after harvest, such as bell peppers, eggplants, beans, and peas. Unlike crops like cabbage or cauliflower, which require pulling up the entire plant and disrupt the soil, these crops allow us to harvest repeatedly without damaging the plant or soil, promoting long-term productivity and soil health.
