Dog Days Farm

Soil health is central to the farm's approach: cover crops, including clovers, rye grass, tillage radish, and buckwheat, are seeded into beds taken out of production to prevent bare soil exposure and to feed organic matter back into the nutrient cycle. Compost, sourced from cow manure, horse manure, and household compost, is spread across fields each spring and fall, and organic fertilizers are used annually to address soil nutrient imbalances. For pest and disease management, the farm follows Integrated Pest Management (IPM), prioritizing cultural, mechanical, and biological controls over chemical intervention. Cultural controls include maintaining pollinator strips and preserving natural habitat areas. Mechanical controls include row cover and proper plant spacing. Biological controls include releasing beneficial insects such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps. Organic pesticides are used only as a last resort.