No-Till, Organic Market Gardens: Restoring Soil Health and Rebuilding Local Food Systems
(A USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant Program)
Our goals for the No-Till OMG program are to increase the implementation of No-Till OMG production practices by assisting 20 historically underserved (socially-disadvantaged, limited-resource, beginning, and veteran) farmers with entering, establishing, growing, and managing successful farm businesses that build soil health and contribute to the local food system, in three years.
We excitedly will create an evidence-based model for No-Till OMGs which improves soil health that is replicable, scalable, and supported by data from soil analysis conducted on 20 farms across Louisiana over a three-year period.
The program strives to build stronger local economies resulting from new food sector businesses, new food sector jobs, and food purchase dollars remaining in and circulating through 90% of the communities with project participants as demonstrated through the Social Indicator Planning and Evaluation System (SIPES) over a three-year period.
No-Till OMG program participants at the first field day at Delaterre Permaculture Farm in Eros, Louisiana.
Our Farmers
The No-Till, Organic Market Gardens: Restoring Soil Health and Rebuilding Local Food Systems has 20 participants who are historically underserved Farmers in Louisiana. Each person must meet at least one of the following: beginning Farmer (< 10 years), veteran, socially disadvantaged, and/or limited resources.
Each farmer must commitment to a 3 year program and have access to 1/4 of an acre. The No-Till OMG program includes:
• Soil Testing & Analysis
• Training
• Gardening Toolkit
• Financial Incentives
