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The article discusses the phrase "many little hammers" that describes various strategies available to organic farmers to win the war on weeds. Doctor Eric Gallandt summarized the approach during the 2012 Canadian Organic Science Conference. He said that the essential things to be considered include the weed's lifecycle, crop-weed competition, and weed seed decay. A systems-based approach to weed management tools and strategies is discussed.

The article discusses soil and its biology. It notes biodynamic farming and its notion of a farm as a living organism with regards to Horn Manue soil, Horn Silica plants, and oak bark, yarrow, and valerian composts. It also states the efforts of Doctor William Albrecht and J. I. Rodale on mineral balancing in soil and naturally mined fertilizers. The Albrecht Method focuses on the soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC) and its ideal components which include calcium, sodium, and potassium.

The article focuses on the benefits of wood ash for farmers and gardeners, citing the important role it plays in maintaining soil health and crop nutrition. It notes the quick acid-neutralizing action of wood ash, highlighting its beneficial effects such as in facilitating nutrient uptake by the plant and in controlling pests. It discusses the nutrients found in wood ash which include nitrogen, potassium and sulphur.

The article provides a sensory guideline to soil health. It states that a one-off chemical soil analysis gives a valuable image of nutrient availability at a particular time. Soil fertility should reportedly be analyzed in the field rather than as a list of properties of a separated sample. Most producers use visual soil health kits or qualitative soil health assessment materials to supervise their soils on a regular basis.

The article focuses on grazing in livestock production. Intensive rotational grazing is discussed and the possible reasons behind the lack of adoption by farmers is explored. Some insights are also given for those who want to go on grass-based livestock production. Rotational grazing is defined using two key elements, dividing land in small areas and rotating animals through paddocks allowing pasture lands to recover from grazing.

The article offers information on seed treatments. It states that seed treatments aim to enhance seed performance and protect seeds from soilborne pathogens. It mentions that treatments to enhance seed germination include scarification, seed soaking and acid treatment. It notes that traditional treatment to avoid seedborne pathogens include hot water treatment, bleach as well as plant extracts and oils.

The article focuses on root sellers in Canada and the actions that they are taking to extend their marketing season. It defines root sellers as farmers and gardeners who have designed their crop rotations to include a large proportion of winter storage crops and who also store and market such products over the course of a long Canadian winter. During winter, backyard gardeners and large-scale market growers turn to root cellars for their winter crops. It also provides information on several crops including their storage condition and best harvest time.

The article discusses the importance of earthworms in gardening. The presence or lack of earthworm indicates the health of the soil as well as it potential for food production. Earthworms break soil compaction by mixing large and small soil aggregates. They also enhance water infiltration and water retention by creating mazes as they tunnel through soil, thereby creating pathways for water to permeate.

The article presents information on biodynamic farming. It states that biodynamic agriculture is based on the knowledge that the soil, plants, animals and farmers work together in one agricultural cycle. Like organic farming, biodynamic farming does not use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. It favours soil health through the use of compost, animal and green manures, among others.

Increasing costs associated with winter feeding have renewed interest in extending the grazing season in the North‐Central USA. A factorial design with three N treatments was applied to existing smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermisLeyss.) pastures to evaluate initiation dates and N fertilization rates for stockpiling forage. Stockpile initiation dates were 1 June, 15 June, 1 July, 15 July, 1 August, and 15 August. Nitrogen fertilization treatments were 0, 56, or 112 kg ha−1. Data collected included forage mass in October, residual forage mass the subsequent April, leaf concentration, and forage nutritive value. October forage availability was generally greater from earlier stockpile initiation dates (2.58, 2.44, 1.98, 1.28, 0.78, and 0.65 Mg dry matter ha−1for 1 June, 15 June, 1 July, 15 July, 1 August, and 15 August stockpile initiation dates, respectively; LSD at 0.05 = 0.19). Leaf mass available in October was similar through the 15 July stockpile initiation date. October forage mass was greater with 56 kg N ha−1than with 0 N fertilization, averaging 1.26, 1.75, and 1.85 Mg ha−1(LSD at 0.05 = 0.14) for 0, 56, and 112 kg N ha−1, respectively, when averaged across stockpile initiation dates and years. Trends in April forage mass for stockpile initiation date and N fertilization tended to be similar to October. Crude protein tended to increase and acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber tended to decrease as stockpile initiation was later in the season. These results indicate that initiating stockpiling of smooth bromegrass–dominated pastures about 1 July with 56 kg N ha−1optimizes stockpiled smooth bromegrass in the North‐Central region.

The article offers information on Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) established by public plant breeders, small seed company plant breeders, and farmer-breeders advocating seed protection from patents.

The article discusses the holistic approach used by organic researchers to deal with weeds, pest and fungal diseases. To get rid of weeds, researchers in Quebec have looked into cellulose-based sheets as mulch to prevent weeds from emerging and prevent pests from entering the soil. Degree-day modelling is used by Organic Science Center researchers to control rosy apple aphids insects. To prevent diseases, it is important to plant apple varieties that are resistant to apple scab or fire blight.

The article informs that plants are constantly communicating with their environment by using chemicals such as sugar, proteins, amino acids and hormones. It mentions several symptoms of nutrient deficiency in plants, such as lush growth and excessive foliage at the expense of flowers and fruits indicate excessive nitrogen while stunted-looking plants signal phosphorous deficiency. The article also enumerates micronutrient deficiency symptoms and their impact on plant growth.

The article focuses on value-added marketing to enable organic farmers to differentiate themselves from competitors. It relates the confusion among consumers about organic and local food. Tony and Penny Marshall of Highwood Crossing Farms in Alberta, explains the value of catering to consumers who love their produce. It explores the various ways by which organic farmers can utilize product differentiation.

The article explores the idea of biochar or the use of charcoal as a soil amendment and to address climate change. It traces the biochar story to the Amazonian forest in the 1800s when pre-Columbian civilizations turned infertile soils into productive land through careful burning and burial of felled trees. Johannes Lehmann's research at New York's Cornell University has shown biochar can increase the soil's ability to hold on to nutrients including calcium and potassium. Other studies doubt the benefits of biochar due to its tendency to limit nitrogen.

The article gives advice on tilth and soil fertility. The benefits of tillage include breaking up compacted soil, formation of new soil aggregates, stimulating biological activity in the soil, increasing soil temperature in the spring season, mixing organic matter into the soil, weed control, and creating a proper seedbed. Gardening tools used for cultivating soil and preparing seedbed includes spade, broadfork, wheel hoe, rotary tiller, and walking tractor.

The article focuses on root pests which create significant losses for organic farmers and gardeners by affecting the product, quality and the market ability of root crops. It highlights common problems of insect infestation, as well as the root cause. Suggested cultural practices to minimize pest damage are also given, including early cultivation to increase soil temperature and moisture loss, use of floating row covers to prevent adult flies, moths and beetles from laying eggs, and use of repellant crops in keeping insects at bay.

This article offers a number of tips for growing salad greens. The author advises to plant early season crops on sandy soils and mid-to-late crops on heavier soils with higher organic matter content. She suggests to choose species depending on some factors: market demands; the length of growing season; and soil conditions. If the risk of erosion is negligible, the author advises to prepare the seed bed in the fall. In growing lettuce, she asserts that light levels are very important.

This article provides information on some wheat species. According to the author, data suggest that emmer is more robust than its more domesticated descendents in that it can better scavenge nutrients in resource-limited conditions. Spelt has only moderate nitrogen requirements and has a variable seeding rate ranging from 130 to 200 kg/ha depending on weediness and available moisture. Winter wheat is considered a heavy feeder in terms of nutrients and produces a high quality straw.

Discusses the benefits of weeds. Definition of a weed; Use of weeds as indicators of soil conditions; Impact of agricultural practices such as cultivation and fertilization on weed species.

Provides information on pulse crops used as livestock feed. Soybeans; Field peas; Lupins; Fava beans; Lentils.

Presents guidelines for testing and assessing the quality of soil for successful organic farming. Classification of soil; Correlation between soil organic matter and soil quality; Definition of cation exchange capacity, base saturation and electrical conductivity; Information on macronutrients and micronutrients that determine soil fertility.

The article offers information on effective microorganisms (EM) and their application to organic farming. EM, developed by agronomist Teruo Higa to transform disease-inducing soils into highly productive agricultural soil, contain over 80 selected species of microorganisms including predominant populations of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts.

The article discusses techniques that organic farmers use to reduce weeds in growing cucumbers, squash and other cucurbits. It is said that proper weed management helps with optimal yields, reduces diseases and minimizes interference during harvest. After planting, it is reportedly important to maintain a weed-free period through cultivation. A no-till production system to rid cucurbits of weeds is mentioned as well as a supposed promising technology using a roller-crimper to kill cover crops.