Cover Cropping
A genuine way to give back to Earth is to plant cover crops, and a great time to do it is NOW! Cover crops are simply plants that are grown in between growing seasons to enhance the soil.
Cover cropping is a way of regenerating our soil, enhancing life and function. It adds organic matter, specifically nitrogen back into the soil. It took a lot of nutrients to grow those delicious veggies we have been enjoying so this is a way to give nutrients back. Adding this step into your gardening regimen can drastically improve soil in just one growing season. It will attract beneficial insects and pollinators, increasing biodiversity. I see it as a simple way of saying thank you.
We take so many resources from Earth everyday and what do we do to give back? I have become very sensitive to lack of reciprocity in the human to Earth relationship. I see cover cropping as a simple way of consciously returning the favor. Don’t get me wrong, cover cropping will in fact benefit us as well because our health is dependent on the health of the soil. If soil is deficient we are deficient. If soil is poisoned we are poisoned. Cover cropping helps to ensure that next season our soil will be full of life and nutrients, making it less likely that we will need to be amended or fertilized before spring planting.
I have a new client that is being called to the garden. She has recently moved into a new home and the garden beds are already in place the only thing standing in her way is her mind. She’s intimidated. She doesn’t feel that she knows enough, and doesn’t know where to start. She called me just a couple of days ago and as we were speaking I thought, what a beautiful way to start a relationship with Earth, with garden, with food, with soil, with health. To begin the process by giving instead of taking. So today it begins, we will clean out the overgrown beds, talk about nature and broadcast seed organic oats and peas. We will help heal Earth together rain or shine.
Please, please, please take 1 hour and 24 minutes to watch Kiss the Ground on Netflix to learn more about our relationship with soil. Check out the trailer below!