Volcanic rock dust has long been used by organic and sustainable farmers to promote soil health and to grow nutrient dense crops in a variety of conditions. Not all rock dust is alike, however. Created through the cooling and solidification of dense viscous lava, volcanic basalt is an igneous rock that underlies much of the…
Located in the middle of the Willamette Valley in Western Oregon, Sunset Valley Organics is a family farm owned and operated by Bob Wilt and Wilt Farms. The farm’s roots date back to the early 1900’s, but it wasn’t until several years ago that Bob Wilt switched over to organic production after recognizing the link…
Oh, weeds…how we love to hate them! Admittedly, their resilience is impressive. We smother them, douse them in vinegar, lop off their heads, and torch them with flames. Sounds like something straight out of HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones,’ doesn’t it? One might argue that aggressive tactics are the only way to deal with these sneaky…
A healthy garden is a happy garden—and a bountiful one. Here are a few straightforward strategies to help you make the most of the space that you have. Plant in raised beds In a raised bed, you don’t have to worry about walking paths. With more room to garden, you can plant more vegetables closer…
This article was originally published as a guest post on Growing a Greener World. The secret to growing healthy and nutritious food begins with the soil. Naturally healthy soil contains billions of living microorganisms—from bacteria to nematodes, fungi, protozoa, arthropods and earthworms. Together, they join in a carefully choreographed “bacterial ballet” in which each organism…
The weather is cold and blustery, which means that soup season is officially here. Nothing beats a bowl of hot soup to feed the stomach and nourish the soul—except perhaps a loaf of hearty, home-baked bread. Sure, bread gets a lot of bad press these days (too many carbohydrates! too much sugar!) … but there…
Brix levels indicate a plant’s growing conditions by measuring dissolved sugars, proteins, amino acids, essential oils, minerals and other solids. Plants with higher brix levels produce more fragrant flowers with greater concentrations of essential oils and grow better-tasting, more nutritious fruits and vegetables. Brix Levels and Soil Health Not surprisingly, plants grown in remineralized soil…
Typical of this time of year, it is raining buckets here in the Pacific Northwest—and as the rain comes down, so do the leaves from the trees. As tempting as it is to stay inside (and drink mugs of hot tea all day long!), there is still plenty of work to be done in the…
Going about our daily lives, most of us don’t give much thought to the soil that sustains us. Throughout the world, urban areas are becoming more densely populated—which means that more and more of us are standing on “dirt” rather than “soil.” What’s the difference? Dirt is dead. Soil is living. Ask any organic farmer…
Have you harvested your last juicy red tomato? Coaxed the last few cucumbers from the vine? Don’t despair! Seize this opportunity to get your garden ready for growth that can last through the fall and into the early winter. In many parts of the country, cooler temperatures bring out the best in a variety of…
