Today’s guest needs little introduction in the small farm no-till world.  Jesse Frost of Rough Draft Farm in central Kentucky has helped so many of us learn about soil health and diversified small scale production through the No-Till Growers YouTube channel, the No-Till Growers podcast, and his book The Living Soil Handbook.   

If you’ve struggled with heavy clay, boggy or compacted soils at your farm or in your garden, this is the episode for you! Frequently I get asked about my recommendations for clay and poorly draining areas, but I actually have no experience with those conditions myself.  Jesse does.  And I eagerly picked his brain for you all.  You're welcome! 😉

We talk a bit about cover crops for clay soils, including tillage radish, phacelia, sorghum sudangrass, vetch, and winter rye.  

Also in this episode, Jesse and I take a stroll down memory lane to consider both of our paths as regenerative growers.  As you’ll hear, five or six years ago, there was only a trickle of guidance available for smaller farms looking to implement no-till practices on a production level.  We both had to do a lot of experimenting on our farms and still do today.  We mention the Singing Frogs interview on the Farmer To Farmer Podcast back in 2018, a key catalyst for both of our no-till journies.  Also Andrew Mefferd's book The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution, which was published in the spring of 2019.  Both are highly recommended if you haven't already discovered them.

Also Mentioned In This Episode: 

The Regenerative Growers COHORT with me, Jennie Love, is a year-long, small group coaching program for those that need a little help learning how to apply all the concepts and practices talked about here on the podcast.  To learn more, click here.  

Other On-demand Short Courses for Farmers: 

• Foliage for the Win
• Successful Flower CSAs and Subscriptions
• CREW: Hiring and Managing
• Woodies: Playing the Long Game (coming in February 2024)
• Simple Steps to Better Marketing (coming in January 2024)

Tap into the above courses and resources any time you need.  These are available on-demand through the Regenerative Flower Farmers Network.  Current RFFN members shoud follow this link to access the Short Courses at the discounted member rate.   

Join the Regenerative Flower Farmers Network for just $20/year if you'd like to continue the conversation on topics covered in this episode.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also want to listen to: 

Episode 14: Breaking Down Compost with Jesse Frost

Episode 33: Cover Cropping Basics for Small Scale Regenerative (Flower) Farms

Episode 13: Improving Poor Compost with Ellen Polishuk

Episode 28: Seed Starting, Regenerative Style with Lisa Mason Zeigler

Episode 12:  The Everything Tulips Episdoe with Dave Dowling

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Thanks for tuning in!  

We're back with Season 4 of the No-Till Flowers Podcast!  In this solo episode, host Jennie Love talks about regenerative spraying and how to boost the health of your crops with foliar feeding.  Learn about the phyllosphere and what easy homemade inputs you can use to reduce pests and diseases with weekly foliar sprays.  

Mentioned in this episode: 

Join the Regenerative Flower Farmers Network if you'd like to continue the conversation on this topic.

Jennies on-demand short courses for fellow farmers: 

• Foliage for the Win
• Successful Flower CSAs and Subscriptions
• CREW: Hiring and Managing
• Woodies: Playing the Long Game
• Simple Steps to Better Marketing
• Regenerative Farming Cohort

Tap into the above courses and resources any time you need.  These are available on-demand through the Regenerative Flower Farmers Network.  Current RFFN members shoud follow this link to access the Short Courses at the discounted member rate.   

How to make WCA, a homemade calcium foliar feed.

How to make LAB, a homemade input for boosting good biology in the phyllosphere

My4Sons Backpack Sprayers

Quorum Sensing TED Talk on YouTube

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also want to listen to: 

Episode 15:  A Little Goes a Long Way in Regenerative Farming with Tony Gatez

Episode 21: The Magical BRIX Number that Stops Pests with Dr. Tom Dykstra

Episode 23:  Bokashi & Worm Farming with Matt Arthur

Episode 30: JADAM Basics, Making JMS and Other Natural Inputs

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HAVE IDEAS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PODCAST?  Share your opinions in this brief survey.  

As always, if you appreciate this podcast and all the education it provides, please take a moment out of your day to rate and write a review for it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you are listening to it. 

Thanks for tuning in!  

Curious about cover crops for a flower farm?  Host Jennie Love walks listeners through a clear and concise overview of cover crops suitable for a small regenerative farm and why cover crops are such a valuable tool in the summer time for weed management.  Included is a list of favorite cover crops for a small flower farm. 

Mentioned in the episode: 

Cover Crop Solutions Chart from Peaceful Valley

Deer Creek Seeds

Kings Agriseeds

Peaceful Valley 

The Regenerative Flower Farmers Network (find a transcript of this episode there as well as lots of other helpful resources)

If you enjoyed this show, you will also enjoy listening to these past episodes: 

• Episode 26: No-Till Basics: Bed PReparation Using the Deep Mulch System
• Episode 18: The Ins and Outs of Intercropping with Denise Richter 
• Episdoe 17: Exploring the Science Behind Natural Farm Inputs with Nigel Palmer
• Episode 15: A Little Goes A Long Way In Regenerative Flower Farming: KNF and JADAM with Tony Gaetz of Bare Mountain Farm

Sign up for our newsletter so you'll be the first to know about special events and other opportunities.  

Follow @notillflowers on Instagram for more content. 

HAVE IDEAS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PODCAST?  Share your opinions in this brief survey.  

As always, if you appreciate this podcast and all the education it provides, please take a moment out of your day to rate and write a review for it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you are listening to it. 

Thanks for tuning in!  

Here's Part 2 of my chat with Margaret Parks of Evergreen Growers Supply, an Oregon-based supplier of beneficial insects and microorganisms.  If you haven't already, be sure to listen to Part 1 to get an introduction to using beneficial insects in your grow operation.  

Some important links to go along with this conversation:  Evergreen Growers Supply dmvbeneficials.com Cucumber Beetle Trap Japanese Beetle Trap

JOIN ME for a FIELD DAY AT MY FARM in Philadelphia THIS SEASON.  

Register for the April 14th Field Day here.  

If you liked this episode, you'll want to also listen to: 

Episode 21: The Magical BRIX Number That Stops Pests with Dr. Tom Dykstra

Episode 25: The Power of Pusle Watering with Emma Horswill of Earthenry Farm

Episode 29:  Nutrient Balancing in Living Soils with Bryant Mason, the Soil Doctor

Join the Regenerative Flower Farmers Network for more resources and Q&As with podcast guests.  

HAVE IDEAS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PODCAST?  Share your opinions in this brief survey.  

As always, if you appreciate this podcast and all the education it provides, please take a moment out of your day to rate and write a review for it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you are listening to it. 

I’m joined in this episode by Margaret Parks of Evergreen Growers Supply, an Oregon-based supplier of beneficial insects and microorganisms.  We begin by discussing the big picture pieces of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as they relate to small scale flower farming.  Then we dive into spider mite control with three fantastic beneficial insects.  We also touch on banker and trap crops as well as the importance and fundamentals of scouting. 

Some important links to go along with this conversation:  Evergreen Growers Supply Margaret’s Critter Links

The mite predators Margaret mentions are:  Amblyseius / Neoseiulus fallacis  (pronounced "fuh-LASS-iss") Hypoaspis miles / Stratiolaelaps scimitis – (pronounced "stratio-LAY-laps") Phytoseiulus persimilis – (pronounced "per-SIM-ih-liss")

Margaret offered a great pro tip during our conversation I thought I’d put here in the show notes so it’s easy to reference.  Add site:.edu after google search terms to find university and extension publications quickly without having to weed through all the companies sell stuff.  

Because Margaret had so much great info to share, I’ve split my conversation with her into two parts. Tune in again for Part 2 where we talk about a few more specific pests, like cucumber and Japanese bettles, as well as a natural product Evergreen Growers offers to combat gall.  

If you liked this episode, you may want to also listen to: 

Episode 8: Dahlia Pest Management with LeeAnn Huber of Coseytown Flowers Episode 15: A Little Goes a Long Way in Regenerative Flower Farming KNF and JADAM with Tony Gaetz of Bare Mountain Farm Episode 21: The Magical BRIX Number That Stops Pests – An Exciting Conversation with Dr. Tom Dykstra

HAVE IDEAS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PODCAST?  Share your opinions in this brief survey.  

As always, if you appreciate this podcast and all the education it provides, please take a moment out of your day to rate and write a review for it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you are listening to it. 

Margaret Parks of Evergreen Growers Supply

Host Jennie Love walks listeners through a clear and concise discussion of what natural farming is and how to begin making natural inputs like JADAM Microbial Solution (JMS).  If you've been intimidated by the host of natural inputs talked about in Korean Natural Farming (KNF) and JADAM, this is a great introduction that will demystify the process and get you started.  

Mentioned in the episode: 

Registration for the CREW virtual seminar to help you find and manage a great crew for the coming season.  

The JADAM book

The JADAM YouTube channel

The Regenerative Flower Farmers Network where you'll find the transcript for this show and several related articles to making natural inputs for your regenerative farm (you must be a member to access it)

If you enjoyed this show, you will also enjoy listening to these past episodes: 

• Episdoe 17: Exploring the Science Behind Natural Farm Inputs with Nigel Palmer
• Episode 15: A Little Goes A Long Way In Regenerative Flower Farming: KNF and JADAM with Tony Gaetz of Bare Mountain Farm

Please remember to rate and review this podcast!  Many thanks! 

Guest Bryant Mason of Soil Doctor Consulting in Colorado joins host Jennie Love in a lively conversation about nutrient balancing and soil testing, including key nutrients for better flower production and stem quality.  Follow Bryant on Instagram @soil_doctor.  

Bryant has developed an easy online tool to help you directly to interpret your soil tests and choose natural amendments accordingly.  Click here to learn more.  

Covered in this episode are:

• The Different Forms of Nitrogen
• Calcium
• Phosphorous 
• Magnesium
• Soil pH
• Soil Paste Test and Soil Testing in General
• Tissue Testing
• Water Management
• Testing Natural Inputs for Nutrient Levels

Resources mentioned in this episode are: 

• Biomin Cal-Boro (calcium boron feed)
• Infiltration Ring
• Chart for Mode of Nutrient Uptake in the Root Zone
• Logan  Labs

Past episodes for further listening include:

Episdoe 25: The Power of Pulse Watering with Emma Horswill

Episode 17: Natural Inputs with Nigel Palmer

Episode 15: Korean Natural Farming and JADAM in Flower Farming with Tony Gaetz of Bare Mountain Farm

Episode 4: Soils Testing 101 with Ellen Polishuk 

HAVE IDEAS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PODCAST?  Share your opinions in this brief survey.  

As always, if you appreciate this podcast and all the education it provides, please take a moment out of your day to rate and write a review for it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you are listening to it. 

It’s seed starting time!  I’d venture to say this is what we growers are live for!  Watching seedlings grow in the depths of winter is the best mood lifter.  Those of you in the Southern Hemisphere are likely gearing up for your late summer sowings for cool annuals too.  So it seemed like a great time to do a deeper dive into seed sowing with my old friend and seed starting pro, Lisa Mason Zeigler from the Gardener’s Workshop. 

Lisa literally wrote the book, called Cool Flowers, on starting seeds for early spring crops. She’s been flower farming for 25 years and runs a seed supply house.  She’s also the host of the Field & Garden podcast, which you should check out if you haven’t already. 

In this episode,  Lisa and I talk all about seeds.  Everything from seed storage tips to creating a living soil with natural inputs to even a bit about sowing by the biodynamic calendar.

If you’d like to get my written out Regenerative Seed Starting Mix Recipe, join the Regenerative Flower Farmers Network (RFFN) to download that today. 

Lots of links to share with this episode:

The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman

Seed Germination Theory and Practice by Dr. Norman Deno (free download)

Biodynamic Calendar (make sure to set your specific location for accurate days)

A study about the importance of the first few days of a seedling’s life and how they develop

Maxicrop (kelp product)

WCA (calcium input)

LAB (video on how to make it)

A study on worm castings enhancing germination

A study on worm castings improving disease resistance

TED talk on how bacteria “talk” with autoinducers

Past episodes mentioned in this conversation for further listening include:

Episode 21: BRIX with Dr. Tom Dykstra

Episode 15: Korean Natural Farming and JADAM in Flower Farming with Tony Gaetz of Bare Mountain Farm

Episode 16: Biodynamics with Erika and Ken from Teton Full Circle Farm

Episode 23: Bokashi and Worm Farming with Matt Arthur

HAVE IDEAS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PODCAST?  Share your opinions in this brief survey.  

As always, if you appreciate this podcast and all the education it provides, please take a moment out of your day to rate and write a review for it on Apple Podcasts or wherever you are listening to it. 

Guest Laura Beth Resnick of Butterbee Farm in Maryland joins host Jennie Love again to discuss building and rebuilding a successful farm business over the past decade. 

Covered in this episode are:

- Finding land to farm - Pros and cons of renting versus buying farm land - Funding sources for land and infrastructure - Making infrastructure decisions - Bringing goats to a flower farm - Finding peach of mind and courage in the face of big change and wintertime

Mentioned in this episode are: 

The Regenerative Flower Farmers Network

Jennie's upcoming virtual farming cohort where she'll coach a small group of flower farmers throgh the spring. 

Laura Beth's previous episode here on No-Till Flowers.

Laura Beth's online class about building a farm, including more details about funding. 

A past episode on farmer burnout and mental well-being with Amelia Ihlo.

The "goat moat" fig guy, Three Fold Farm in Mechanicsburg PA (they have an earth battery green house too). 

Farm Service Agency (FSA) for farm loans

Please take a moment to rate and review this podcast wherever you are listening.  

Find No-Till Flowers on Instagram @notillflowers

Host Jennie Love walks listeners through a clear and detailed description of how she has prepared no-till beds at her farm over the seasons.  She goes into particular detail about the "deep mulch system" that many smaller diversified farms use for no-till bed preparation.  Jennie also discusses her own journey to getting started with no-till farming back in 2018.   Water and weed concerns related to no-till beds are also disucssed in this episode.  

Mentioned in this show:

Registration for the 2023 No-Till Flowers Farming Cohort is now open and you can sign up here.  

Andrew Mefferd's book, The Organic No-Till Farming Revolution

Join the Regenerative Flower Farmers Network to read detailed articles on and see lots of photos of no-till bed preparation.  

If you enjoyed this show, consider listening to these related episodes: 

• Breaking Down Compost with Guest Jesse Frost
• Improving Poor Compost with Guest Ellen Polishuk 
• Talking All Things No-Till Flowers with Guest Tony Gaetz from Bare Mountain Farm
• Pulse Watering with Emma Horswill from Earthenry Farm

Please rate and review this podcast wherever you are listening so we can grow the auidence.