Regenerative Agriculture is making waves in the agriculture industry as a more sustainable farming practice. Inspired by a Spring trip to the RegenerativeNYC conference, we’ve been thinking a lot about what this buzzword means and how it applies to the work we do here at Green City Growers.
From large-scale production farms to urban plots, regenerative practices are being implemented across diverse landscapes. Take, for example, the Rockefeller Foundation. This major organization has been investing efforts and funds into learning about and promoting regenerative agriculture practices, further establishing its significance even beyond traditional industry groups.
Regenerative agriculture is holistic, reframing farming as a cyclical process. It’s about restoring and “regenerating” the surrounding ecosystem. The goal is a bountiful crop yield, but also achieving this in a way that is safe, sustainable, and ultimately gives back more than it takes.
At its core, it’s all about keeping the soil and the crops in a high fitness level so they are more able to adapt and resist the pressures commonly associated with crop and livestock production (e.g., pests and diseases). Healthy soil is populated with microorganisms that improve soil structure, enhance water movement, provide additional nutrients to plants, and help suppress pests and diseases. Farmers can employ various methods to promote the stability and longevity of their soil.
At Green City Growers, our soil is enriched by compost made from our own garden plant material, allowing us to recycle these nutrients back into the ecosystem. We also fertilize with a certified organic fertilizer that contains poultry manure and organic soybean material.
Our practices don’t stop there. We are growing vegetables in urban environments, which presents a distinct set of challenges to consider compared to open-field farming.
“We are constantly talking to our customers and only planting things we’re sure they will use,” said Sara Rostampour, our Director of Horticulture. “We’re not wasting any space. We are creating specialized plant palettes and are super diligent about using the space we have, which can sometimes be unique and oddly shaped urban spaces.”
By taking extra care in choosing what and how we plant in our garden beds, we are making sure our produce won’t end up in the trash and contributing to the circularity element of regenerative practices.
Many of these practices, like the idea of a local food system itself, are not new. From the once abundant and local market gardens to the practices of Indigenous peoples worldwide, regenerative principles have been utilized in relationships with the land for thousands of years, emphasizing the circularity and sacredness of nature.
Regenerative agriculture aims to help us better understand how to harness nature’s services rather than fighting against them.
Simply put, regenerative agriculture is a decision-making framework that guides growers towards practices aligned with the safety and security of the environment, thereby improving soil health, supporting pollinators, reducing carbon emissions, promoting healthy water cycles, and fostering biodiversity.
For more information, check out some of our favorite resources from people we met at the Regenerative NYC conference:
- Braiding the Sacred
- A network of Indigenous corn growers aiming to preserve and celebrate the traditions of their respective communities.
- John Kempf
- The founder of Advancing Eco Agriculture, a regenerative consulting company and the host of the Regenerative Agriculture Podcast.
- ROA: Regenerative Organic Alliance
- An organization founded by farmers, business leaders, and soil health experts with the goal of increasing the number of farms worldwide that adopt regenerative organic practices.