Farm Wisdom

Practical lessons from the field to help you grow healthier soil, stronger plants, and more resilient gardens. Every article is rooted in real observations, simple science, and a belief that nature is our best teacher.
Why Haul in Organic Matter When I Can Grow It?
Why Haul in Organic Matter When I Can Grow It?
Fall is already full enough. Instead of buying, hauling and spreading organic matter, I’m learning to let the garden grow some of its own. Cover crops don’t eliminate the spring... Read more...
New Routines Are Hard. But the Benefit Is Great.
New Routines Are Hard. But the Benefit Is Great.
Good routines can be hard to start and surprisingly easy to give up. This fall, I was reminded that the same is true in the garden. A simple cover crop... Read more...
Roots: What Holds Us Through the Heat
Roots: What Holds Us Through the Heat
What we see above the surface depends on what is happening below it. In the garden and in life, strong roots help us endure difficult conditions and stay connected to... Read more...
Every Plant Needs a Plan
Every Plant Needs a Plan
What if companion planting is less about which plants are "friends" and more about what each plant contributes? From Indian paintbrush to marigolds, buckwheat and cover crops, I'm learning to... Read more...
Organic Matter Is Garden Gold
Organic Matter Is Garden Gold
Fall cleanup doesn't have to mean hauling everything way. The roots and plant material your garden grew all summer have value. Learn why organic matter is garden gold, what to... Read more...
Why Roots Matter
Why Roots Matter
We spend a lot of time thinking about what to add to our gardens, but some of the most important work is already happening beneath out feet. Discover why healthy... Read more...
What Dave Ramsey Taught Me About My Soil
What Dave Ramsey Taught Me About My Soil
What if we treated our soil like a sinking fund? Every harvest makes a withdrawal, while cover crops, compost and living roots help make deposits that prepare the garden for... Read more...
Great Gardens Start Underground
Great Gardens Start Underground
The best lesson dahlias taught us wasn't about flowers. It was about what was happening beneath the surface and why healthy soil changes everything. Read more...
Why Healthy Soil Changes Everything
Why Healthy Soil Changes Everything
A bright yellow field that was never meant to be harvested may seem unusual, but it offers an important lesson for every gardener: healthy soil is easier to maintain than... Read more...
Balsam root covering the soil in the Jarbidge Mountains during spring.
Nature Doesn't Leave Soil Bare (And Neither Should We)
Nature rarely leaves the ground bare. A spring trip to the Jarbidge Mountains reminded my why protecting the soil is one of the simplest and most important thins we can... Read more...