NO TILL MARKET GARDENING UProoted Farm | Chatham, MI Don’t Fall Victim to the Dogma

● No till systems definitions are susceptible to jargon and word salad.

● I think of no till concepts as tools in a toolkit I can employ or not employ as needed in my personal farming context.

● I believe in avoiding dogma and absolutes.

● The idea of “no till” seems to have fallen victim to the same problems you see in permaculture and biodynamic communities. Tillage System Definitions for the Market Garden We’ll Cover: What We’re Not Covering: ● Tillage Based System ● Conventional Agriculture ● Low-Till or Minimal No Till Systems Tillage System ● No-Till System Tillage System Definitions for the Market Garden

TILLAGE BASED SYSTEM

HEAVY SOIL DISTURBANCE

● Pulverizing soil crumb/structure ● Inversion of soil layers ● Compaction of soil profile

● Rototilling ● Rotary Plow ● Subsoiling ● Heavy machinery in growing area Tillage System Definitions for the Market Garden

LOW TILL/MINIMAL TILLAGE SYSTEM

MEDIUM SOIL DISTURBANCE ● “Gentle” mixing of soil ● No to very slight inversion of soil layers. ● No to light compaction of soil.

● Power harrowing ● Broadforking ● Light machinery ● Avoid walking on beds Tillage System Definitions for the Market Garden

NO TILL SYSTEM

LITTLE TO NO SOIL DISTURBANCE

● Soil is never disturbed ● Light scratching/raking of soil surface during bed turnovers. ● No compaction of soil

● Light machinery for bed turnover only ● ie: Flail mower, or other mowing tool, tilther 3 Key Elements of No Till Market Gardening

1. Disturb the 2. Keep the soil 3. Keep the soil soil as little planted as covered as as possible much as much as possible possible Tools & Techniques Tools & Techniques Tools & Techniques

● PAPERPOT TRANSPLANTER ● INTERPLANTING ● COMPOST MULCHING ● TILTHER ● INTERSEEDING ● WOOD CHIP MULCHING ● HAND ● LEAVING ROOTS FROM ● ALL OTHER MULCHES WEEDING/CULTIVATING PREVIOUS CROP ● COVER CROPS AS MULCHES ● BED FLIP TECHNIQUES ● COVER CROPS ● TIGHT PLANTING ROTATIONS Efficient Bed Turnovers Are Key

EASY MODERATE CHALLENGING Plants with a powerful root Root vegetables and plants Plants that leave a stump – I system or that are densely that are completely removed think it’s better to leave the planted. Have a tendency to come during harvest. stump. back. Use a flail mower or hand cut. Flail mow, hand pull, mow and mulch or tarp. Examples: Examples: Onions, beets, carrots, radish Salanova, head lettuce, kale, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers Examples: ARUGULA, baby kale, salad greens

Helpful Links from No-Till Growers Podcast: https://www.notillgrowers.com/blog/2019/6/12/turning-over-beds-in-no-till-a-collection https://www.notillgrowers.com/blog/2019/3/18/how-to-flip-baby-greens-beds-no-till In farming, context is everything. No till techniques are part of the toolkit.

THE FARMER THE LAND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THE BUSINESS

● Background & Skills ● Climatic conditions ● Existing assets ● Sales ● Financials ● Elevation & terrain ● Season Extension ● Available Markets ● Philosophy & Purpose ● Soil chemistry & ● Wash/Pack ● Marketing Strategy ● Personality & structure ● Irrigation ● Cost Temperament ● Existing assets ● Tools ● System choices ● Environmentally ● Machinery sensitive? Benefit Analysis - Practicality

- Reduce weed pressure - Can be more work - Extends season - Dependent on large - Saves steps and time amounts of inputs (sometimes) - Hasn’t proven to be - Reduced washing scalable...yet??? - Cost Benefit Analysis - Ecological

- Ecologically sound - May not be scalable (Regenerative) - Inputs might need to - Increases soil fertility come from far away - Improves soil structure - Promotes soil life - Lessens runoff Benefit Analysis - Ideological

- Personal beliefs factor - Could contradict into your choices practicality - Don’t need to - You might fall victim to “quantify” your choices the dogma The Players and Influencers in the No-Till World

Charles Dowding No Dig https://charlesdowding. Connor Crickmore co.uk/ Neversink Farm

https://www.neversink farm.com/ Jesse Frost Rough Draft Farm Richard Perkins Ridgedale Farm No-Till Podcast Permaculture

Book: Regenerative Agriculture No Till Example

Ridgedale Permaculture Richard Perkins

● Huge amount of compost & mulch every 4-5 years ● 4-6” of compost on beds ● 8-12” of wood chips in the paths ● Weeds 3 times a year Questions? First Year Farming Presentation January 15, 2020

Watch the recording at: https://mediaspace.msu.edu/m edia/t/1_49m5ng26

Want to learn more about UProoted Farm? Website: www.uprootedfarm-mi.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 321-794-4130

Instagram: @uprootedfarm Facebook: @UprootedFarm

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