Cover crops in orchards
It takes an ecosystem to grow a tree. By Anna Mouton. We humans often describe a clean floor as one you can eat off. But a clean orchard floor starves soil organisms. Cover crops can boost diversity both above and…
Everything counts in large amounts
What are collembolans doing in your orchard? By Anna Mouton. Collembolans are among the most common animals on earth — they occur on every continent and in almost all terrestrial habitats. You can probably find somewhere between 10 000 and…
Farming with nature at ZZ2
A 20-year journey has validated their decision to transition from industrial agriculture to farming in harmony with nature. By Anna Mouton. The family-owned ZZ2 group began thinking about a different approach to food production back in the 1990s. “We started…
Organic matter… matters
Because orchard performance is rooted in the soil. By Anna Mouton. Most growers would agree that soil conditions can determine the success of an orchard. This is why so much effort goes into soil preparation when planting. But what about…
Put your soil to the test
Measuring is the first step in managing soil health. By Grethe Bestbier. Is there life in my soil? What kind of life? Does my soil provide enough food for microbes and plants? Soil health tests provide answers to these and…
The benefits of soil health
Laying the groundwork for productive orchards. By Grethe Bestbier. Maintaining soil health is important for many reasons. Soil sustains all forms of terrestrial life and underpins successful crop production. Soil also stores carbon, thereby slowing climate change. Entomologist Matthew Addison,…