The "No Till, No Dig, No Pull" rule in Regenerative Gardening (which we call Transformational Gardening”) helps sequester carbon in the soil and supports the fight against climate change. The animated video below by Jimi Sol explores three different regenerative practices that have great potential both in food production and in healing the land.
Science and principles of Regenerative Agriculture
1. No Till / No Dig
Soil Structure Preservation: Tilling or digging soil disrupts its structure, breaking apart soil aggregates and exposing carbon-rich organic matter to the air. When this organic matter is exposed, it oxidizes and releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
Carbon Sequestration: By not tilling, carbon remains sequestered in the soil. This is because undisturbed soil can hold more organic matter, including carbon.
Soil Microbe Protection: Tilling can destroy the habitats of essential soil microbes. These microbes play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and help maintain soil health.
2. No Pull
Root Decomposition: By leaving plant roots in the ground after they die, they decompose naturally, adding organic matter and nutrients back into the soil. This process also helps in carbon sequestration.
Reduced Soil Disturbance: Avoiding the pulling of plants minimizes soil disturbance, which helps maintain the soil's carbon storage capacity.
3. Healthy Soil Microbes
Nutrient Cycling: Microbes decompose organic matter, releasing nutrients that are essential for plant growth.
Soil Structure Improvement: Microbial activity improves soil structure, enhancing water retention and aeration.
Disease Suppression: Healthy microbial populations can help suppress plant diseases, reducing the need for chemical interventions.
4. Use of Compost and Worm Castings
Nutrient and Microbe-Dense Compost: Compost adds both nutrients and beneficial microbes to the soil. It acts as a natural fertilizer and improves soil structure.
Worm Castings: Known as vermicompost, worm castings are rich in nutrients and beneficial microbes. They are more effective than commercial fertilizers as they provide a balanced nutrient profile and improve soil health without the risk of chemical build-up.
Advantages in Regenerative Food Gardening
Sustainable Practices: These methods promote sustainable gardening by reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Enhanced Soil Fertility: Over time, these practices lead to richer, more fertile soil capable of supporting robust plant growth.
Biodiversity Support: Regenerative gardening supports biodiversity both above and below the soil surface.
Climate Change Mitigation: By sequestering carbon, these practices contribute to the mitigation of climate change.
Regenerative Gardening addresses many environmental challenges
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming and gardening that focuses on improving and revitalizing the soil. The "No Till, No Dig, No Pull" approach aligns with the principles of sustainability, soil health, and carbon sequestration. It not only benefits the garden ecosystem but also contributes positively to the broader environmental challenges we face globally.
One of the key benefits of regenerative agriculture is sequestering carbon in the soil through practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, crop rotation, and the integration of livestock.
Sequestering carbon indirectly pulls carbon dioxide from the atmosphere Here's how it works:
Photosynthesis: Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis. This is a natural and vital process where plants use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into glucose, a form of sugar that they use for energy.
Carbon Storage in Soil: When plants die or shed leaves, stems, or roots, this organic matter gets incorporated into the soil. In a regenerative agriculture system, practices like composting, cover cropping, and minimal soil disturbance help to maintain and increase organic matter in the soil.
Reduced Soil Erosion: Regenerative practices often lead to better soil structure and health, which can reduce soil erosion. Healthier soils can hold more carbon over time.
Increased Soil Organic Matter: By increasing the organic matter in the soil, regenerative agriculture practices help to store more carbon in the soil. This organic matter is made up of decomposed plant and animal material, which includes carbon.
Therefore, while the primary action of regenerative agriculture is not directly pulling CO2 from the atmosphere, it facilitates the natural process of photosynthesis and improves soil health, which indirectly leads to more carbon being removed from the atmosphere and stored in the soil. This process can be an important component of strategies to mitigate climate change.
“Grow Your Own Food” blog posts
See the full list of our Grow Your Own Food blog posts. Each post is assigned ”tags” which are under the post title. If you need a quick answer to a gardening question give us a call or send a text to our customer support team – support[at]deep-roots-project.org AND 708-655-5299.
Deep Roots online store
See our online store for details about prices, ordering and delivery of raised beds, planter boxes, microbe-rich compost, worm castings, leaf mulch and more. We don’t sell traditional soil, since we use 100% compost as our growing medium. Our online store has 2 sections – (1) raised beds and planter boxes and (2) compost, worm castings, fertilizer.
Please contact our customer support team before placing an order online so we can assist you with the details and answer your gardening questions. You can pay by credit card in the store or by check.
(708) 655-5299 and support[at]deep-roots-project.org
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