What is Regenerative Farming?
Regenerative farming is a practice of plant or livestock cultivation which employs ecologically sound methods to improve the surrounding environment. There are many different methodologies considered to be regenerative. Some practices have been long standing in cultural tradition, others represent a new standard within the cannabis industry of methodologies previously sequestered to oral tradition, hill lore, or word of mouth from one neighbor to another. Examining several different methodologies, we can conclude all are similar in the desired outcome of creating exceptional products while making a positive impact on the surrounding environment.
Soil health is one of the biggest indicators of environmental health. We routinely test our soil and build health compost for the garden.
Biodynamic Farming: Developed by Rudolph Steiner in the early 20th century, this technique considers the farm and surrounding ecosystem to be its own larger organism, or a whole system which operates together. The ultimate goal of a farm, therefore, is to create a closed-loop system (systems feeding into one another). Biodynamic farming incorporates different rituals into a lunar schedule to guide the planting and harvesting of each crop. In this spiritual-scientific method, different rituals lend to the overall health of the farm. For example, in biodynamic farming, cow horns filled with manure are buried on the land and then dug up months later to be used as fertilizer. In this example, the animal the horn comes from is just as important as the act itself because of the energetic signature the material carries. (It’s out there man).
Sun & Earth Certification: This is a new certification that measures how a cannabis farm cultivates as well as the social impact a farm has in its community, especially considering the workers on the farm. To qualify for Sun & Earth certification, one must complete a rigorous application process to ensure the farm utilizes practices that will not harm the surrounding environment, and workers are treated well and compensated fairly. While this isn’t necessarily a regenerative farming practice, it is a verification for customers who are looking for products that don’t compromise on people or the planet in order to cultivate cannabis.
Dragonfly Earth Medicine: One of the most coveted certifications in the regenerative farming world, DEM Pure Certification, is a certification that the practices used on a cannabis farm are:
Naturally derived fertilizers, no synthetics ever.
Soil cultivation
Incorporates integrated pest management systems
Willingness to share knowledge in the community
Use at least six closed loop systems on the farm
In addition, there are other guidelines on how the cannabis material can be used. Only solventless extractions are permitted to be DEM Pure Certified.
Korean Natural Farming (KNF): Developed by Master Cho, Korean Natural Farming or KNF focuses on creating all of your own “inputs” or fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, etc. This methodology outlines how to capture and cultivate IMOs, or indegenous microorganisms, as well as creating FPJs or Fermented Plant Juice in order to harvest the properties of the native plants and apply them to your cultivated crop. For example, plants that have an aggressive growing pattern, like blackberries, especially the fresh new shoots, can be fermented and then given to cannabis plants to encourage rapid new growth. This is especially useful in the vegging stage of the plant’s life cycle when you want the plants to grow more rapidly.
Of course, there cannot be one methodology that is best in all cases. Instead, think of these practices as tools in a toolbox, each with strengths and weaknesses. Depending on your location and resources, one might be distinctly better than the other. It is up to each cultivator to understand the ecology of the land in order to steward it best and to discern what “tools” are best suited for particular scenarios.