Investing in Local Food and Organic Farms
Slow Money Institute is a non-profit organization catalyzing the flow of capital to local food systems, connecting investors to the places where they live and promoting new principles of fiduciary responsibility that “bring money back down to earth.”
Mar 20, 2013
Perennial vs. Annual: Perennials have larger root systems that improve soil stability, allow better management of nitrogen levels, reduce need for pesticides and store more water in soil. Photo taken at the Land Institute in Salina, Kan. Information artwork by Douglas Gayeton for the Lexicon of Sustainability.
While I was searching for images of life in the soil, I came upon the following on Sweet Bay Farm’s website (see above). They’re working to restore soils depleted by decades of monoculture—the continual cultivation of a single crop, in this case tobacco—so this picture of several earthworm tunnels in a clod does not yet suggest anything teeming.
Jeff, before we begin, I want to thank you for the images of the jars of water, one with soil rich in organic matter and one with the dissolved murkiness of soil that is deficient in carbon. Ever since you showed those images during a public talk a decade or so ago, the comparison has stuck with me.
In 2016, Colorado Soil Systems received a $15,000 zero-percent loan from the 2Forks Club. This loan allowed us to establish a fruit-tree rootstock nursery to preserve indigenous trees that grow in the valley; purchase irrigation supplies, fencing, and soil amendments; and embark on a vegetable- and flower- production operation.
Hey, this is amazing- thanks for the info! I’m curious what the difference between the two is in other categories, too. For instance, do they taste different? Is one significantly better nutritionally? Is one cheaper (excluding subsidies) for farmers to do (though based on the info you post in this picture, I’d assume the perennial would be better for the farmers) & what is the reason people use annuals when it doesn’t look like there is any advantage.
ALSO… is there a way to know whether or not your farmer used perennials or annuals based on labeling, any specific types of grains that are always one or the other, or a website that breaks down all the facts about various manufacturers… anything like that? I’m sort of new to the sustainable food movement, so I’m hungry for information 🙂
Thanks!