Our soil is the secret to our success.

Maintaining the health of our soil is a cornerstone of our organic farming practices. As stewards of the soil, we do everything we can to help it teem with micro-organic life and the natural nutrients that create more nutritious and tastier food. Our crop diversity avoids wearing out the soil the way repeated single-crop use often does. Biological activity in our soil is protected and replenished.

We also practice crop rotation. By alternating different types of crops, we disrupt the life cycles of the weeds and pests that are commonly found in non-organic farming systems.

The key to our soil’s abundance is an organic technique known as plowdowns. Planting sweet clover at the same time as wheat is an example of this technique in action. During the first summer, the clover grows very little and we easily harvest the wheat above it. The established clover protects the soil from vulnerability to weeds or erosion. Remaining dormant over winter, the clover bursts into growth with the spring rains. As it grows, the clover works its magic by smothering weeds and fixing nitrogen into the soil. Next, we plow the clover under, where it acts as natural fertilizer often called green manure. More than any other practice, plowdowns ensure a balanced farm ecosystem. They contribute to the great vitality of our soil and our high quality crops.