Compost Crop Rural Development 
ATTRA
MARCH 12, 2024
As farmers who work in unpredictable climates, we know the importance of growing a diverse range of foods and harvesting various parts to make up for times when cash crops are scarce. Although cutting leaves may slow fruit production, it’s often a necessary part of plant pruning. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.
ATTRA
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
I love direct seeding crops; it feels like an act of faith that the seeds won’t fail, or the weeds won’t choke them out. I use a silage tarp to break down plant matter from previous crops. I remove debris with a rake, use a wheel hoe or a push tiller set at a shallow depth, or add an inch of compost.
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ATTRA
FEBRUARY 20, 2024
By Lee Rinehart, NCAT Agriculture Specialist In my past two blogs, I reflected on planting cover crops on small plots and gardens. And since cover cropping is scalable to just about any size farm or garden, it made sense to conduct some field experiments of my own. Diversity of food crops and flowering annuals. Give it time.
ATTRA
AUGUST 20, 2024
They avoid using excessive chemicals, rotate crops, and plant cover crops to keep the soil healthy. Local fiber systems are being revitalized, supporting rural economies by providing stable employment opportunities. Clothes made from this cotton are compostable and don’t contain harmful microplastics, unlike synthetic fabrics.
ATTRA
OCTOBER 1, 2024
Importantly, compost cannot be used as a growing medium for microgreens due to the high risk of foodborne illness and contamination. Red and blue light spectrums are particularly beneficial, with red light promoting stem growth and blue light encouraging strong leaf development. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.
ATTRA
JANUARY 2, 2024
Higher temperatures can speed crop growth and increase demands on the soil. Close plant spacings, quick crop successions, and extended seasons, typical in tunnel production, add to those demands. With increased crop successions comes increased soil preparation and tillage that can impact soil structure.
ATTRA
OCTOBER 31, 2023
This concept can also be used to feed crops. Instead of throwing garden refuse away or composting it, one could instead chop it up and drop it as mulch back into the garden. Mulberry ( Morus sp.) is also highly useful for this system of “cut and carry” but does not fix nitrogen like its leguminous counterparts. ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.
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