The Farm & Soil

Perennial Garden

Simply put, without soil there would be no Organic Growers Club.  Soil is what makes all things in organic farming possible.  The soil stores water (against the force of gravity!) that plants can access even if it has not rained for days or weeks.  Due to isomorphic substitution,s in a secondary mineral called clay, and the addition of copious amounts of ORGANIC MATTER (a.k.a. The Answer--btw wasn't that Allen Iverson's nickname?), soil is able to store plant nutrients.  Soil pores provide diverse habitats for an array of microorganisms, some forming symbiotic relationships with plants (mycorrhizal fungi, Rhizobium and Frankia, oh my!). 

Organic farming is not about growing plants.  It's about growing the SOIL.  The fact that quality produce results is merely a by-product (a tasty one if that!).  Effectively nurturing the soil requires the implementation of many soil management techniques.  The addition of organic matter dramatically increases the cation exchange capacity (and therefore nutrient holding capacity), water holding capacity, buffering  capacity and aggregate stability of soil and decreases the bulk density soil.  Crop-rotation prevents the depletion of soil nutrients, confuses potentially harmful soil organisms and keeps soil fertility levels very high.  No-till farming preserves the vitally important structure of macropores and prevents soil compaction.  Planting cover crops gives nutrients to the soil and provides and effective means of weed control.  The use of compost and compost tea (click here for more information than you would ever want to know about compost tea) provide organic matter and an abundant array of beneficial microorganisms.  The perennial garden contains a hedgerow of native flora that promotes a diversity of organisms for pollination and pest control.  The practice of permaculture is also used to a degree on the farm.  The club has two chicken tractors that are moved daily to different sites on the garden beds by "Chicken Tenders" (you can become one if you wish!).  The chickens provide a method of weed and pest control, fertilizer and eggs!

The organic growers club has a broad impact on not only the OSU and Corvallis communities, but the world as well.  The growers club provides sustainably grown food to those in the local community through veggie sales on campus and a CSA.  The club also provides a great hands-on learning experience in organic farming/gardening for the members.  Gaining practical skills is crucial to supplementing classroom knowledge.  Most importantly, the club provides hope for the future of agriculture.  Growing soil needs to be the key focus of future farmers/gardeners so that we might be able to live on this earth and feed 7 BILLION+ people.

chicken  tractor

7 year crop roation plan