1 of 14

Sustainable Farming

MUDCOLLEGE Farm @ Biglerville Garden Club

October 1, 2024

2 of 14

image credit: https://lirneasia.net/

3 of 14

from sustainable to regenerative

Images from Tree-Range Farms

4 of 14

Farm with natural ecology

5 of 14

Credit: NRCS

6 of 14

Biodiversity in cover crops

7 of 14

Mow
Tarp
Cultivate
Seed cover crop
Plant transplants
Mulch

MUDCOLLEGE Bed Prep

From “grass” to crops

Mow to weaken existing plants, terminate immature seedhead, add organic matter and ground cover.

Tarp to block light to the soil, while causing any seed to germinate in warm/moist conditions.

Shallow rooted plants will terminate and decay, adding primarily nitrogen and organic matter, as well as stimulating soil biological activity. Remaining unwanted plants should now be obvious (since everything else will be brown).

Cultivate by pulling taprooted plants and hoe the remainder of unwanted living plants.

A disc may be important if creeping weeds are present.

Broadcast cover crop seed to outgrow any remaining unwanted seed, and provide cover crop benefits

Plant transplants into a row of holes made by 2-stroke auger for a loosened soil area and deep hole that may penetrate the hardpan, or digging fork with the fork oriented inside the row, serving a similiar role and alleviating compaction

Mulch around crops to prevent emergence of unwanted plants, rain splash, and soil harm

8 of 14

Minimal tillage @ MUDCOLLEGE Farm

9 of 14

Buckwheat cover crop @ MUDCOLLEGE Farm

10 of 14

Ground cover @ MUDCOLLEGE Farm

11 of 14

12 of 14

3 Things You Can Do Today

to regenerate your soil

Minimize tillage and soil disturbance
Introduce a cover crop and/or ground cover
Eliminate “chemical” inputs

13 of 14

Painted Turtle Farm/La Granja de la Tortuga Pintada

@ Gettysburg College

14 of 14

Come visit us @ ACFM, Gettysburg Rec Park

Saturdays 8a-1p through October

Barn Markets

Tuesdays 3-5p through October

Saturdays 9-noon November through April

Ben Mearns, Farmer @ MUDCOLLEGE Farm

farmer@mudcollege.com

mudcollege.com