What is Regenerative Agriculture?

Regenerative Agriculture is an integrated approach to farming and ranching rooted in principles of soil health leading to improved targeted outcomes, such as reducing greenhouse gases and reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers or pesticides. This approach is informed by the traditions and innovations from the original Indigenous stewards of the land. (source: CA. Department of Food and Agriculture)

Core principles and practices include:

• Implementing low or no-till practices to keep carbon in the soil and build soil organic matter
• Planting cover crops in the summer months to build soil health and hold soil in place, then cutting them down in late summer or early fall 
• Incorporating native plants to increase biodiversity, support pollinators, and help reduce flooding
• Increasing organic matter to retain water and reduce flooding
• Using cardboard/mulch/compost to both suppress weeds and build soil health without relying on chemical herbicides
• Furthering sustainable pest and integrated pest management to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides
• And much more!

Here are some examples of what you might see in a garden/farm managed with regenerative agriculture practices!

             

From left to right: cover cropping with sorghum-sudangrass, cover cropping with turnip plants

 

      

From left to right: sheet mulching with cardboard and compost, rain garden with native plants

There are many urban farmers and community gardeners in New Orleans practicing one or more of these regenerative agriculture practices. These gardens and farms may look a little more wild and less manicured but they are having an immeasurable impact on our community and planetary health. Practices such as cover cropping are temporary and the cover crops will generally be cut done by late summer or early fall. 

If you have any questions about a garden or farm in your neighborhood, please reach out to our Urban Agriculture Liaison for support (urbanag@nola.gov or 504-658-4957).