I had heard of no-till farming, but did you know about no-till gardening?
According to this piece from the Christian Science Monitor, the same concepts of organic no-till farming can be applied on a much smaller scale to home gardening.
Though the methods involved are different, it’s possible, according to this blog post, recommended by the CSM.
Why would anyone not turn the soil? Apparently, it’s good for the environment to leave soils undisturbed: It promotes “carbon sequestration in the soil,” which helps keep the planet’s CO2 in check.
Home gardeners like it for a variety of reason, including the fact that it cuts down on weeds. According to the blog:
Most garden soils contain weed seeds which lay dormant until the soil is disturbed and the seeds become exposed to light. With no-till gardening, these seeds will remain dormant indefinitely.
Of course, some weeds will appear in the beds, borne by wind or birds. These weeds are easy to remove by hand if you pull them early in the morning or shortly after watering, while the soil is damp.
What do you think about this?
Write me here to share your thoughts or comment below.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
