GERARD'S GREEN GARDEN

OUR ETIQUETTE OF SUSTAINABILITY

     We are a small scale family farm focused on growing food with the resources God gave us. No fertilizer or pesticides. Just compost, rain water and natural amendments. We believe in the ecosystem of our farm. We don’t fertilize the soil, we condition it. Organically grown and sourced. We grow your food with the principles of closed loop agriculture. We truly believe the earth creates no waste. 

Pillars of our agricultural ecosystem 

1. Soil armor. Organic mulching

2. Vermicomposting (worm farming)

3. Traditional composting

4. Sustainable resources (rainwater,Solar)

5. Low-tillage 

6. Established farm systems

7. On farm sales  

  Composting and vermicomposting are how we combat the depletion of our earth's topsoil and raising synthetic fertilizer prices which have doubled in just the last two years. On this course, by 2050, 90 percent of all soils are set to be degraded. With only an estimate of 60 years of topsoil left,  how we grow food must evolve. Recycling rainwater and reclaiming nutrients from food waste are very economical ways for small farmers to begin practicing sustainable agriculture and improving the health of their soil. A farm can no longer operate in a traditional manner as these practices have proven to be harmful to our Earth. As we begin to rebuild farms in our communities we need to make sure we are implementing A new standard of good agricultural practices. The farm is one complete ecosystem that should sustain itself, living and breathing on its own. I truly believe in taking better care of the soil to produce higher quality plants and healthier people. As we begin to try to eliminate food deserts we need to make sure farms are providing nutrient dense produce to our communities.  Our success is buried in our soil management plan which is a crucial part of farming that is overlooked. The soil is a living organism and must not only be fertilized but also conditioned and this is no longer emphasized.

    Vermicompost and compost both create a seldom talked about organic matter called humus. There are several reasons why humus is crucial for soil health. Humus contains important nutrients needed for plant growth, including nitrogen. And it’s not just that humus contains nitrogen, it provides it in a form that is highly usable for plants. Nitrogen is the missing factor in most unhealthy soils. Humus is the substance that is left over after plants and animals have undergone a long process of thorough decomposition done by earthworms, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. It is found in the top few inches of soil. Humus contains the elements necessary for plant growth: nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

 vermicompost can enhance soil fertility physically, chemically and biologically. Vermicomposting is our way to curb all organic pollution. We must create farms that recycle our organic pollution and in turn give us a better Earth and a healthier Diet.