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The Local Food Field Guide

Straight talk on labels, seasons and buying direct from the farmers who grow your food.

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March 22, 2026

Cover Cropping

Cover crops are planted not to harvest, but to protect and feed the soil between cash crops. They're one of the most cost-effective tools a farmer has for building long-term soil health — and a signal that the farm thinks beyond this season's yield.

farming practicessoil health

March 22, 2026

Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is the practice of planting different crops in sequence on the same field each year. It breaks pest and disease cycles, balances soil nutrients, and reduces the need for synthetic inputs — one of the oldest farming techniques that still works.

farming practicessoil health

March 22, 2026

No-Till Farming

No-till farming leaves the soil undisturbed between crops, protecting the fungal networks, soil structure, and biological communities that conventional tillage destroys. It's harder to do well, but the farms that get it right build soil instead of depleting it.

farming practicessustainability