Organic Farming

Tomatoes are one of the most loved staple foods. They also happen to be an incredible source of nutrition. Like many produce items, homegrown varieties provide more health and flavor benefits compared to store-bought. Luckily, tomatoes grow in many different climates. While they take a little more room to grow than most veggies, you can get huge harvests packed with flavor and nutrients using a few simple strategies. Discover tips for growing your own delicious tomatoes here.

Many growers breed store-bought garlic for shelf life, not flavor or nutrient density. Luckily, growing nutrient-dense garlic varieties takes very little time and effort. You can grow enough garlic for a whole year in a small garden bed. Read on to discover how to grow your own garlic that’s bursting with flavor and nutrients for your health and vitality.

Community gardens are a great way to increase food security, improve public health, and even reduce crime rates. With a variety of setups, locations, and goals, they can play an important role in making healthy, ethical, and sustainable food available to ever more people.

Sales of organically grown food are booming. But in the US, organic agriculture still lags far behind where it could be. Many farmers are struggling to make the transition to organic as they face a challenging certification process and short-term financial hardship. Fortunately, there are solutions that could make a huge difference.

Every day, we have more people on planet Earth — and less topsoil, water, and land with which to grow food. Which leaves us with the question: how will we sustainably feed future generations of humans? Some researchers believe that hydroponics — a method of growing food with water, nutrients, and light, but no soil — could be part of the solution. But does it work? Is it safe? Is it really sustainable? And does it produce food that is as nutritious as soil-grown food?

Organic fruits and vegetables cost more than conventional ones — sometimes a lot more. But if you want to avoid pesticide exposure, is it always necessary to choose organic? Or are some conventional fruits and veggies less contaminated? In this article, we go in depth into the Environmental Working Group’s US-based report on the 12 dirtiest and 15 “cleanest” items of produce, to help you make smart decisions to protect yourself and your loved ones from harmful pesticides.

Ocean Robbins sits down with Lyla June, indigenous activist, ecologist, and musician of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne), and European lineages. Lyla and Ocean discuss how indigenous farming practices have shaped the world, why indigenous peoples are critical to preserving biodiversity, and how we can cultivate a sense of belonging and rightful place as we live in the modern world.

The pandemic has revealed deep flaws in our industrial food supply chain, leading many people to take an expanded interest in local farms. One of the most popular and fastest-growing models of farm-community commerce is the Community Supported Agriculture program, or CSA. In this article, you’ll find all about what CSAs are, their benefits and flaws, and how you might want to use this innovative model in your life.

Lawns may look pretty, and they can impress the neighbors. But are their benefits really worth their costs? They can be bad for the environment, and the pesticides sprayed on them can be bad for your health, too. Have you ever wondered what would happen if we turned all our lawns into edible gardens, filled with fruits, vegetables, and herbs?

Compost is nature’s ultimate closed-loop system, turning one generation of waste into the next generation of food. It’s good for the planet, it’s good for your conscience, and it can be a great way to replenish your soil, too! But if you don’t know what you’re doing, home composting can also turn into a great big pile of stinky mess. It can offend the neighbors, attract pests, and smell up your yard. What to do? Ask master gardener, Stacey Murphy, of course!

Bee populations continue to decline, threatening the global food supply. But by choosing bee-friendly plants for your garden, you can help bring back the bees and enjoy the (literal) fruits of your labor.

Farmers market veteran, or perhaps a newbie? Whatever your experience, check out our farmers market guide to get the lowdown on how to make the most of this healthy and sustainable food tradition.