Entries by Rich Myers

Episode 337. ATTRA and SARE: Building Local Food Systems in Montana

/in ,

This episode of Voices from the Field was produced in partnership with ATTRA and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. To learn more about SARE’s library of practical information and available grants to fund projects that advance sustainable agriculture, visit sare.org. In this episode, Maura Henn, an NCAT Local Food Systems Specialist, talks with […]

Clover Living Mulch: How to Seed Your Clover. Part 1

/in ,

Welcome to the Clover Living Mulch System (CLMS)! In this series, we will explore the positive ecological impacts, challenges, and process for utilizing this perennial mulch on your farm or homestead. Lincoln Fishman, owner of Sawyer Farm in Worthington, Massachusetts, is one of a select few farmers pioneering and trialing this system on his farm. […]

Episode 336. Urban Farmer Overcomes the Houston Heat

/in ,

In this episode of Voices from the Field, urban farmer Pasha Angelle of Healing Den Farms in Houston, Texas, discusses how farming realities led her to shift gears and produce microgreens literally in-house rather than crops out in the field in the brutal Texas climate. This risk-management decision has expanded her experience and led her […]

Operation and Features of a No-Till Seeder Drill

/in ,

In this video, we learn from Mike Balawender of New England Hay Supply in Cheshire, Massachusetts, how to effectively operate and utilize a no-till drill. The specific model is an Esch 5512 No-Till Drill, which can be rented for use on farms in the Berkshire Conservation District. https://berkshireconservation.org/programs/ This video was filmed in partnership with […]

Episode 335. She’s Raising Sheep: Sheridan Rowe Langford of Texas 

/in ,

Sheri Langford is a straight-talking Texas shepherd, dog trainer, and retired crime– scene investigator.    In this episode of Voices from the Field, Sheri talks with NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Linda Poole about raising Navajo-Churro sheep – which she calls “the mustangs of the sheep world” – with the help of her border collie, Anatolian, and […]

Tine Weeders – Efficient Hand-Scale Weeding

/in ,

Tine weeders can be an effective cultivation tool, especially for those looking for increased on-farm efficiency. This tool is intended for use on very small weeds; the smaller they are, the easier they will be to uproot. Cultivation over an existing crop is possible as long as the crop is established enough to withstand the […]

Episode 334. Teaming Up with Oxen

/in ,

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Tracy Mumma talks with Jim Gronau, who uses oxen as draft animals on his farm in Ontario, Canada. Jim describes some of the environmental, economic, and marketing benefits of using oxen, and he provides pointers for getting started as a teamster and for […]

Harvesting Salad Greens – Mechanized Harvest for Small Farms

/in ,

Harvesting salad greens can be a slow and labor-intensive process. With recent innovations that include the Quick-Cut Greens Harvester and the Baby Greens Harvester (a scaled up option not shown in this video) by Terrateck, small farms can greatly increase the speed and efficiency of their harvest.   This material is based upon work that […]

Flame Weeding on Small Farms

/in ,

Flame weeding can be a powerful tool for organic weed management. This video provides a general introduction and tips for flame weeding on small-scale farms. The two hooded options shown in the video are the Neversink Inferno Flame Weeder and the Flame Werks 30-Inch Flame Cart.   This material is based upon work that is […]