DETAILS

Since 2007, no-till farming has been a part of 9 Bean Rows' ecological approach to farming. For farmer Nic and his team, no-till farming practices support soil health, plant health, and farm ecological resilience in multiple ways: -Preventing surface and subsurface erosion, -Reducing labor costs -Maximizing space utilization, and -Developing the farm as a living ecosystem During this tour at 9 Bean Rows, we will explore the beneficial practice of no-till farming for diversified vegetable crops and discuss its impact on farming success. Our host, Nic Welty, will demonstrate no-till processes, describe infrastructure, and showcase tools that are helpful to small and diversified farms to apply these practices. We will also discuss the importance of understanding your soil type and topography to make decisions about and how to apply no-till practices to land management. 9 Bean Rows is a small farm in Suttons Bay that strives to provide greater availability and diversity of fresh, local foods for our community. The farm provides vegetables and fruits for their year-round CSA, local school systems, restaurants, and weekly farmers' markets throughout the region. 9 Bean Rows cultivates food, not commodities. Concept Definitions: -Tillage is the method of mechanically turning over the top layer of soil to control weeds, and pests, and prepare it for seeding. -No-till farming is a practice in which the grower avoids disrupting the top layer of soil and opts to plant seeds directly into the undisturbed soil. Accessibility: This tour is held on a natural landscape without accessibility improvements. Be prepared to move across rough and uneven terrain, and wear sturdy closed-toe shoes. Please contact Program Coordinator, Daniel to discuss conditions and accommodations specific to this tour (call 231-622-5252 or email daniel@crosshatch.org).