The farm at Cedar Ridge is still lush and green with clover. But soon the clover will be plowed under to help bulk up the soil with organic matter. Planting a cover crop is an investment of time, money, and effort at the end of the farming season, when we are all tired and looking forward to the break that fall and winter provide.
But there are many great reasons for planting a cover crop like clover: it suppresses weeds, adds nitrogen to the soil, and improves soil tilth (or condition). Our cover crops are not an end in themselves—we do not harvest them. The reason we plant them is they help subsequent vegetable and fruit crops achieve greater yields.
At Cedar Ridge, we focus on personal growth in the context of community and service. We invest in personal transformation not only for our own wellbeing, but so we can support one another in loving community, and together reach out to serve the world around us… May my growth (and yours!) help others thrive and be fruitful.