Conservation Farming and Sustainability, Missoula, Montana

http://www.permies.com

Helen Atthowe, Missoula County Extension Agent (Missoula, Montana) talks about the farming techniques she used near Stevensville, Montana. She calls it "Conservation Farming".

Helen is well known in the Missoula area, not just as the Missoula county extension agent, but also as one of the most popular vendors at the Missoula farmers Market / Missoula Saturday market.

"The goal of our conservation farming is to increase farm profitability by decreasing labor and land requirements while striving to mimic the ecological principles that make native plant systems sustainable. The ecological principles we hope to mimic include reduced tillalge, increase species and genetic diversity, closed nutrient cycles, and creation of more diverse habitat. We look at our farm from a landscape or watershed level and hope to reconnect wild areas, agriculture and urban areas. Conservation agriculture is both biologically and socially a local agriculture."

"We're trying to develop an agriculture system, in this case a vegetable production system, that sponsors its own fertility."

Biological pest management: ".. mimic from a natural system is to sponsor our own pest control." "We're creating habitat for beneficial insects, parasites and predators ..."

"We are trying to provide habitat for birds, and pollinator insects and for other mammals that may be in the system. We're trying to create a link between natural systems and agricultural systems."

Includes footage of an all native hedgerow.

Helen talks about issues with voles and how the voles attracted snakes, coyotes and foxes.


music by Jimmy Pardo

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• farming
• missoula
• montana
• agriculture
• native
• permaculture
• organic
• green
• eco
• environment
• garden

[pac3lli]

Paul, please start doing your own podcast. Even if it is a weekly thing while you are driving, or working in the garden. Some of us crazy survivalists really appreciate how your mind works.

[paulwheaton12]

@pac3lli Jack has been giving me advice on how to do it.

[1958Kata]

Thanks for the great video pw12. I didn't get much sleep last night as my head was busy planning my wofati. Listened to your interview on TSP 3 times!

[paulwheaton12]

@1958Kata Three times! Wow!

[danbabs]

I must say, it's people like you that will turn this dire world around. Farming is the absolute foundation for humanity. The sustainable techniques introduced here seem almost trivial to farming, but humans have become so disconnected from nature that we forget. Thank you for your contribution to our species.

[paulwheaton12]

@danbabs Don't forget to put this on facebook, twitter, blogs and stuff to help us get this word out there!

[impalapez]

awesome! Just found your channel, and subscribed!!!



[behnnie]

I'm trying to pay attention to the content of the video, but as soon a I saw those amazing peppers all I could think about was stuffing them with butter and mushrooms and throwing them on the grill. Better jump back to the start of the video and try again... ;) Thanks for posting! :D

[merlinuhl]

LOVELOVELOVE PERMACULTURE GETS ME SO EXCITED

[Thedevontree]

Did menchon I love that lady the best thing i've seen yet maybe there is hope I'm from new York long island scarey here

[Thedevontree]

Oh YEAH Feed ever one Feed ever thing more more the Mother never stops feeding her childern

[Thedevontree]

The hedge row yes yes yes the great bounty of a tree is it leaves what go's must come up have seen THE MAN WHO PLANTED A FOREST

[palmbaylou]

Thank you for this great video, good visuals and explanation of letting wildlife into your garden. Not all animals are a detriment to a garden. Co-existence is key in my book. I live in Florida but I am still concerned about periods of drought, your ideas of using logs under a raised bed are interesting. I have considered using wood from palm trees here. I understand they will not last very long but they are like a sponge when it comes to water. Thanks again.

[hastingr]

Makes me wish I were there!

[hatthowe]

@brchbell

Thank you. I would love to hear about what you are doing on your farm in Missouri. I have a lot more detail on my living mulch system at veganicpermaculture and will be posting the rest of this conservation video (4 more parts) soon ((as soon as Paul has time to help!). Helen

[hatthowe]

@JohnnySoprano87

Thank you - this is sometimes a challange.... I would like to hear how others are doing at being kinder to wildlife as we grow food for humans. Helen