Why the interest in ‘rock dust’? Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is an emerging practice in which finely ground magnesium- and calcium-rich silicate rock ("rock dust") is applied to agricultural soils to enhance the removal of carbon dioxide—a major greenhouse gas driving climate change—from the...
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Intercropping with Mushrooms in Urban Agriculture
Most of us have heard of and practiced the Indigenous Peoples Three Sisters planting, also referred to as companion planting or intercropping of corn, beans and squash together. The same principle can be applied to mushrooms and intercropping with fruit and vegetable crops, with each crop supporting...
Spring Farming in the Northeast in an Era of Climate Change
Farmers in the Northeast have always managed weather-related risk, but many are finding that weather conditions have become less predictable and more difficult to work around than they once were. While average temperatures continue to increase and growing seasons are gradually lengthening, many of...
Community Gardens Soil Testing Program
Soil testing supports the growth and expansion of community gardens by protecting the health and safety of the food produced in these gardens. CCE Harvest NY, in partnership with the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets (AGM) and the Cornell Soil Health Lab, is offering eligible, food-producing...
Urban Ag Food Safety
Why should I care about food safety? We don’t want people to get sick. Certain populations are more at risk to foodborne illness such as older adults, younger children, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems. It’s bad for business. Food illness outbreaks and recalls of produce may...
Urban Farm Soil Test Interpretation
How do urban soils differ? Why does this matter when interpreting soil test results? Due to a history of human land use and ongoing activities, urban soils are often compacted, contaminated or of poor quality. Because of this, many urban growers produce crops in constructed soils. Urban agricultural...
Haskaps are Blue Berries – How Do They Compare to Blueberries?
If you are considering planting blueberries but have neutral or basic soil, you may hear the suggestion to plant haskaps (also known as honeyberries) as an alternative crop. Haskaps are different from blueberries in substantial ways. This article is a review of the ways that haskaps compare to...
Things to Consider When Adding Specialty Mushrooms to Your Farm
Let’s set aside the familiar button, cremini, and portabella mushrooms (all in the same species of Agaricus mushrooms) and focus on a different and growing segment of the mushroom industry: specialty mushrooms. The USDA defines “specialty mushrooms” as any non-Agaricus mushroom, which includes...
Disease Resistant Crop Varieties for Pest Management on Urban Farms
For vegetable farmers, both urban and rural, plant diseases are an inevitable part of the growing season. Every plant species can be infected by pathogens—biotic disease-causing agents—such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes. On vegetable crops, damage can range from slight to severe. For...
Row Covers for Pest Management on Urban Farms
Row covers can be an effective pest management and season extension tool for urban growers. Row covers are fabric barriers placed either directly over crops or supported on frames (creating low tunnels). There are a variety of fabrics available that differ in weight, permeability, durability, and...