The Microbial Economy and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Image shows that microbes can be used in agriculture to mitigate greenhouse gasses.

Microbial economies trade greenhouse gasses for food and energy.   By tapping into this system, we can increase agricultural profits.  This is because microbially driven agricultural systems require fewer costly chemicals to support. As carbon credit systems become more universal, it is reasonable to assume that farmers who operate to maintain healthy soil microbial communities will … Read more

Why Keep Native Plants on Your Farm or Garden

Podcast describes Reasons for Native Plants

Reasons to include native plants are abundant. Listen to this week’s episode to learn why we include native plants on our farm.Ā  Ā Can you benefit from using natives in your farm or garden?   Description LINKS TO RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Medicinal Herb eBook and Newsletter Signup USDA Plants DatabaseĀ (Unaffiliated Public Website) ABOUT EPISODE … Read more

Understanding Food Webs

Image compares and contrasts food chains and food webs.

What exactly is a food web? Nearly a century ago, the ecologist Charles Elton introduced us to the concept of food chains –linear series of links that shows how food, which provides the environmental currency of nutrients and energy, moves through an ecosystem. No doubt you’ve seen illustrations of food chains.Ā  These often begin with … Read more

Considering Nopales for Arid Land Specialty Crops

Nopales, or Prickly Pear cactus, include numerous species of the genusĀ Opuntia which thrive in poor soils and arid lands. These cacti can be grown and harvested for their tunas, or fruit, and for their pads.Ā  They thrive in deeper, well drained soils, and can tolerate pH levels as high as 7.8.Ā  Ā California researchers have investigated … Read more

Whitewashing Pesticide Hazards

Investigative Journalist Carey Gillam Explains Why Toxic Pesticides Permeate Food Systems Food safety regulations and labeling are promoted as a way to reassure the public that the food we purchase is safe.Ā  But it it? In her new book, Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science, Investigative Journalist Carey … Read more

Microbial Analysis As a Tool for Second Responders

2017 Will Be Remembered as a Year of Disaster The year of 2017 will no doubt be remembered for its stream of natural disasters.Ā  Ā From the fires in Montana to the hurricanes that struck Houston and Puerto Rico…from the earthquakes in Mexico City to the floods in Peru…we are most cognizant of the disasters striking … Read more