Pennsylvania Climate-Smart Farming
Jun 30, 2023 09:31AM ● By Sheila Julson
Regenerative agriculture practices are not
regulated, and the term can mean different things to different farmers, but the
general philosophy encompasses improving soil health, which in turn yields
nutrient-dense food and mitigates climate change by sequestering carbon and
reducing stormwater runoff.
For a farm to be Certified Organic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture
requires that farmers refrain from using prohibited chemical substances for
three years and create buffer zones to prevent the drift of chemicals from
neighboring properties. While many farmers grow crops using organic methods,
they may not obtain certification because the process can be complex and
cost-prohibitive. Both regenerative or organic agricultural practices are instrumental
to the future health of people and the planet.
“Regenerative agriculture employs holistic principles to restore and
support soil and ecosystem health, honoring the relationships within the
whole,” explains Audrey Livengood, of Livengood Family Farm.
“It’s not just about grazing a cow on grass; it’s about how the way in which
that cow is raised interacts with the microbiome of the soil, and how it
affects the health of humans and the broader ecosystem.”
Livengood offers pastured-raised meats, eggs and organically grown
produce. Animals are rotationally grazed and ruminants are 100 percent
grass-fed. The farm’s pork and poultry are free of genetically modified
organisms (GMO), as well as soy and corn.
By working with nature, rather than against it, regenerative farming
helps maintain the intricate balance of the Earth. “Rather than dominating it
and strongarming nature into submission, regenerative farmers try to listen and
observe before acting. When things are in balance, soil-wise, animal-wise and predator-prey
wise, the system regenerates,” Livengood’s husband Dwain explains.
The Livengoods believe that the health of our bodies, our ecosystems and
the entire planet is at stake. While farming with regenerative practices is
ethically and ecologically responsible, they believe that success stretches
beyond crop yields and farm size, and places more emphasis on the quality of
food, relationships built with the community of consumers, money saved from
repurposing old equipment and the satisfaction of witnessing the land flourish.
“We seek to inoculate our community with optimistic growers of all kinds
of nutrient-dense food. Our county needs many hands to capture the vast
opportunities of food production in the most productive, non-irrigated county
in the United States.”
Cedar Meadow Farm owner Steve
Groff’s regenerative agriculture journey began more than 40 years ago. He’s
been perfecting the process of growing “food as medicine” ever since, and says,
“It's the core of who I am as a farmer. Over the years, I've designed equipment
and strategies that are now commonplace on regenerative farms around the world.
My goal is to enhance human health and wellness by growing food and cannabidiol
[CBD] products with a cropping system that mimics nature and honors the way it
was designed to function.”
Groff grows heirloom tomatoes, winter squash, small grains, fiber hemp
and CBD hemp. As a farmer for more than four decades, he has observed a
societal shift in generational preferences; the Millennials and Generation Z population,
especially, care deeply about where their consumables come from.
Groff’s book, The Future-Proof Farm, outlines how it is
imperative that those who grow food understand that how they grow it impacts
its nutritional value. “We have documented that our fields have improved, and
we’ve seen our vegetables and CBD products rank significantly above average. We
are certified by two regenerative agencies, which will give consumers
additional confidence in the enhanced nutritional benefits of the products we
grow. This, in turn, gives me confidence that the future of our farm is
bright.”
The Stoltzfus family, owners of Whispering Breeze Farm Market,
uses organic agricultural methods to grow a bounty of seasonal selections on
their Amish farmstead. Crops include spring asparagus, strawberries, radishes
and kale, and corn, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, squash and onions through
summer and early fall. They also offer fresh eggs and canned goods throughout
the year. Their greenhouse allows for winter production to grow radishes,
spinach and scallions for pre-order.
“I want my soil to be alive, and chemicals kill the soil,” affirms Amos
Stoltzfus. He believes farming organically will help save their farm for future
generations. “I don’t see the conventional methods as sustainable. I also enjoy
the challenge of farming through organic farming methods.”
Stoltzfus observes the trend toward food grown through regenerative and
organic methods is consumer driven. “I think there will be more regenerative
agriculture around in the future than there is now.”
Miller’s Bio Farm
specializes in A2/A2 milk, which is cow’s milk rich in digestible proteins.
Owner Aaron Miller and his team have created a community of small farms
in the Lancaster area that work together to offer humanely raised dairy, beef,
pork, chicken, eggs, produce, honey, baked goods, grains and more.
Animals on the farm are pasture-raised, grass-fed and not confined to
barns or cages. They are not administered routine antibiotics or vaccines, nor
hormones or steroids. All foods sold by Miller’s Bio Farm are free from GMO.
Miller observes a negative public sentiment toward using animals for
food, but notes that raising livestock is integral to regenerative methods, and
animals on the land are key. He hopes to reinvent the conventional food system
and reestablish trust.
“Our customers order online and get natural foods delivered to their
door, saying good-bye to the supermarket. With this system, our customers can
know everything about the foods they consume. We’re supporting a community of
small farmers that do not want contracts with big suppliers. They are getting
paid fairly to do what they love—producing nutritious food with respect for the
environment.”
Undernourished soil can take approximately 10
years to return to health, so Miller emphasizes the more farmers care for the
soil and pasture-raise their animals, the better they can play a role in not
only providing nutritious food, but also halting climate change.
Locations: Cedar Meadow Farm, 535 Drytown Rd., Holtwood, 717-723-3770, CedarMeadow.farm.
Whispering Breeze Farm Market, 5 Spring Rd., Leola, 717-656-0358, Ext.
2, WhisperingBreezeFarm.com.
Miller’s Bio Farm, 523 Valley Rd., Quarryville, 717-786-7895, [email protected], MillersBioFarm.com.
Livengood Family Farm, 1648 Morningside Dr., Lancaster, 717-327-6817, LivengoodFamilyFarm.com.
