132: Laura Davis of Long Life Farm on Soil Mineralization, Farming without Flea Beetles, and Organic Certification
Farmer to Farmer with Chris Blanchard
English - August 17, 2017 08:30 - 1 hour - 106 MB - ★★★★★ - 327 ratingsSociety & Culture Health & Fitness local pitchfork agriculture blanchard chris entrepreneur entrepreneurial farming hightunnel hoophouse Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Laura Davis farms about two-and-a-quarter acres of vegetables at Long Life Farm in suburban Hopkinton, Massachusetts, with her husband, Donald Sutherland. Laura started farming after she was laid off from her 30-year career in the medical device business, and she and Donald farm full time, selling their produce to a CSA and two farmers markets.
Laura was attracted for farming through a passion for soil science, and has put a lot of effort into re-mineralizing her soils. We discuss her approach to improving the soil in order to improve her crops, and the reduced insect and disease pressure she’s seen on her farm as a result. Laura also shares her experience with a recent foray into no-till production.
Laura is also an organic certification inspector, and we discuss the ways that being a certified organic farm from very early on fit into Long Life Farm’s business strategy. Laura shares her tips for record-keeping and staying in your certification agency’s – and your inspector’s – good graces.
Perennial support for the Farmer to Farmer Podcast is generously provided by Vermont Compost Company and BCS America.
Pictures, show links, and more at farmertofarmerpodcast.com/episodes/davis.