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ATTRA Blog

Whether you’re a seasoned or beginning producer, a curious consumer, or simply someone who appreciates the bounty of the earth, you’ll find valuable insights and engaging stories here.

Written by ATTRA specialists on topics they are passionate and knowledgeable about, the ATTRA blog highlights techniques, how-tos, insight, success stories, and much more in support of sustainable agriculture.

homemade desktop hydro

How About Growing Your Own Food During the COVID-19 Restrictions?

We are all used to popping down to the local supermarket or garden center to buy potted plants or flowers to liven up the house, and to a certain degree, we still can. But as we are spending more time at home than we could have imagined a few months ago, why not also consider buying plant starts or seeds and growing your own food?
By Andrew Coggins, NCAT Rocky Mountain West Regional Director
winecap mushrooms

Wine Cap Mushroom Production: Getting Started

By Nina Prater, NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Last…
greenhouse

Growing Vegetable Transplants in the Greenhouse

By Luke Freeman, NCAT Horticulture Specialist Earlier this…
Andy Pressman, NCAT

Improving Seed Viability and Germination

Vegetable growers are hustling to start seeds in order to have transplants ready to go in to the ground once the soil has warmed up and dried out.
By Andy Pressman
NCAT Northeast Regional Director
Cattle in pasture

Adaptive Grazing – You Can Do It

Adaptive grazing improves forage availability and ecosystem functioning, and strengthens grazing landscapes with diversity and resilience. ATTRA has brought together a suite of resources for farmers and ranchers, of all scales and for all species of grazing animals, who are interested in transitioning to an adaptive grazing system.
By Lee Rinehart, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
Guy Ames, NCAT

Peach Leaf Curl

I’m seeing peach leaf curl in my orchard. It’s April, but the calendar date is not as important as the growth stage of the peaches.
By Guy K. Ames
NCAT Horticulture Specialist In Northwest Arkansas
pepper plants

Using Raised Beds to Increase Your Harvest

When I am faced with a less than ideal growing situation, rather than fight with Nature, I'll build a raised bed. I've built many of them over the years to suit different purposes.
By Justin C. Duncan
NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist
Jeff Schahczenski

Rethinking Crop Insurance in the Time of Pandemic: Risk and Uncertainty

By Jeff Schahczenski, NCAT Agricultural and Natural Resource…
Devona's 2020 Starts

ATTRA Resources for Resiliency

Here on my farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia, I am extremely eager to get my garden started. Due to the uncertain times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, I am motivated to achieve greater self-sufficiency and resilience for my family.
By Devona Bell, Director of Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Communities & Local Foods
elderberries

Elderberries: Easy to Grow Medicine

I can hardly think of a perennial fruit easier to grow than elderberries. And I can hardly think of a food item with a stronger claim to health benefits. Coupling the ease of growing with this fruit’s new popularity as an effective medicine, this could be an opportune time for growers to consider establishing an elderberry planting for their family, or perhaps, more ambitiously, a commercial venture.
By Guy K. Ames, NCAT Horticulture Specialist