Create a Regenerative Garden at Home

Create a Regenerative Garden at Home

by Maureen Frost

Upgrade your home garden so that it not only grows the best quality plants and produce but also benefits the planet.

Regenerative Agriculture is a way of farming and grazing that cultivates healthy soil by rebuilding soil organic matter and restoring soil biodiversity. This allows you to grow nutrient-rich food while simultaneously drawing down carbon from the atmosphere to help in the fight against climate change.

It matters because according to The Carbon Underground, the industrial farming practices of deep tilling, monocropping, and chemical fertilizers and pesticides have changed the soil so that it can no longer effectively absorb carbon. These methods also deplete crops of their nutritional value.

Utilizing regenerative practices that can capture carbon in the soil will help to rebalance the carbon in the atmosphere and cool our planet and oceans in the process. Furthermore, focusing on the health and vitality of your soil will allow the food it grows to become as nutrient-dense as possible.

5 Steps to a Planet-Friendly Backyard

1. Become a compost master.

Collect food scraps like fruits, veggies, and coffee grounds and garden waste like twigs, leaves, and grass clippings, along with used paper products and create a compost bin in your yard. This organic matter will eventually decompose and return the nutrients to the earth in the form of microorganisms and minerals. Dark and moist compost can be added to your garden soil to replace the use of artificial fertilizers, providing an abundance of nourishment for your plants.

2. Ditch the pesticides.

Pesticides strip the soil of their nutrients and can seep into your food and water sources, and in turn, introduce harmful chemicals to your body. Pesticide exposure has been linked to many health issues including cancer, endocrine disorders, and respiratory issues. There are many natural alternatives that can keep pests out of your garden. Depending on what you plant, you can research natural repellents that work just as well and are healthier for your family and the planet. For example, ants and mice don’t like mint and marigolds repel squash bugs and tomato worms.

3. Utilize cover crops.

Planting cover crops in your garden will add to the variety of organic matter present, thus increasing soil health. It will also protect the soil from the heat and subsequent water evaporation. This method will stave off erosion from heavy rains, support the organisms and insects living in it, and hinder weed growth. In addition, you can protect your soil’s surface by using mulch, wood chips, and lawn clippings.

4. Plant Perennials.

Returning year after year, these plants grow deep roots in the soil that can help trap carbon, combat water runoff, and erosion. Employing them as cover crops will help to increase the organic content of the soil and keep the soil protected after the main crop is harvested.

5.

Practice no-dig gardening. Everytime you dig or till soil, it disrupts the life processes happening within the ground. Instead of digging, layer on your mulch/compost so that the nutrients can do their part to commingle with the dirt below it, allowing the natural processes to continue uninterrupted.

BONUS Eating straight from your backyard helps to cutdown on the carbon footprint associated with commercial food transportation.