vegetables, herbs & flowers grown on a women-owned, no-till farm in the southern berkshire mountains
we practice no-till, chemical free, high intensity farming. let’s break that down…
why does no-till matter to us?
because soil health comes first. the soil under our feet is home to billions (!) of microorganisms. these fungal and bacterial communities are hard at work decomposing organic material into nutrient available organic matter for our plants. healthier soil means healthier plants means healthier us! by not disturbing the soil through no-till management we are prioritizing the health of the soil..and as an extension, the health of our planet.
what do we mean by chemical free?
at Dancing Greens Farm we do not use inorganic chemical inputs such as fertilizers or pesticides. full stop. instead, we choose to use non-invasive techniques to protect our natural ecosystem. this is a bare minimum for sustainable farming. we rely on compost and cover crops to build our fertility. and we use physical barriers for pest protection like row covers and integrated pest management.
huh, high intensity farming?
since we are operating in a small space (only half an acre!) we have to make the most of it. we use techniques such as solarization and tarping to turn beds over quickly. in order to grow a high diversity of vegetables we employ techniques such as intercropping and relay cropping to keep our crop plan moving along. this high intensity format demonstrates how a large amount of food can be grown in a tiny space.
we are always adapting and learning.
the farm is constantly learning, just as a farmer is. trying out new techniques and approaches is integral to how we achieve our goals of sustainability.
Farmer Jamie always says, “we farm with values - not dogma.”
DANCiNG GREENS at The Farm New Marlborough
in our second season, we’ve been given the opportunity to expand our growing space to The Farm New Marlborough. thanks to Farmer Tom - a change maker in New Marlborough - who believes in a regenerative and community driven farming future. we feel very lucky to be able to grow with and learn from Farmer Tom.
At The Farm New Marlborough we view our five hundred acre farm as a giant perennial garden and employ the best in the business to maintain it... the animals. As soil/grass farmers our diverse gardens cover over five hundred of New Marlborough’s finest acres. We are the farmers and our animals are the gardeners. Through an intensive rotational grazing model, our cows, chickens and pigs manage our gardens by aerating, cultivating, pruning, fertilizing and sanitizing all summer long. Each animal knows exactly what role to play in this orchestrated symbiotic dance that we the farmers help choreograph. The result is healthy abundant growth, both above ground and below, the healthiest and best quality meats that can be grown, and most importantly, a regenerative model that heals the earth, air and environment and keeps the candle burning for a cleaner world for our children!
about The Farm New Marlborough
our journey at Dancing Greens Farm….
