PLENTY Spring 2020 Plenty Spring 2020-WEB | Page 29

are layered, non-prescriptive, and the goal is one we
can all share: the regeneration of our soil, the health
of our agricultural ecosystems, the profitability of our
farms and the vibrancy of our farming communities.
Soil is the key to all of these things, and every one
of us—farmers of all kinds, long arrayed against one
another as ‘sustainable’ or ‘conventional’, eaters, policy
makers and scientists—has a role to play.
I love walking through fields of cover crops in mid-
summer, seeing the buckwheat buzz with honeybees,
butterflies, and native pollinators and knowing that the
sunn hemp and sorghum/sudangrass towering over
my head are generating organic matter to nourish the
soil’s next crop. Today, I realize that these soils have
even more potential: to use the photosynthetic power
of these plants to draw down atmospheric carbon
and store it, mitigating and possibly even reversing
agriculture’s carbon emissions. In addition to growing
crops and increasing farm profits, healthy soils have an
importance that is even bigger and more critical than
John Peter could ever have imagined.
I still do regular soil tests, and I still love poring
over the results. Just yesterday, I sat at lunch with
the farmers that grow grain all around us and showed
them the wonderfully color-coded Cornell Soil Health
Assessment I took when we first started growing on
our vegetable fields. But, as so many wise farmers and
gardeners know, you can often tell whether a soil is
healthy even without a test: the smell, the texture be-
tween your fingers and beneath your feet, the diversity
and density of the vegetation that grows there. You can
see the life that fills it, watch the balance of creatures
that frequent the area, notice whether water soaks in
or runs off, whether the soil dries to a hard crust or
stays workable even in dry weather. Even today, soil
is one of the great unknowns of our planet, less well
understood than the oceans, with capacity we have
yet to learn. I think that the health of our soil will be
one of the great areas of study and learning of this new
decade, as it was back in the time of the building of
Montevideo, with so many mysteries to appreciate and
to solve. I’m grateful to be along for the ride.
Amanda Cather owns and operates Plow and Stars Farm in
Poolesville, Maryland with her husband Mark and their chil-
dren. She is also the new project director for the Million Acre
Challenge, coming to Maryland in 2020. amanda@milliona-
crechallenge.org
LAND LINK
Montgomery
A program of Montgomery
Countryside Alliance helping farm-
land and farmers find each other...
There are currently 19 farms
and 32 farmers awaiting a
match, presenting a perfect
opportunity to grow together.
6093 Farmer Seeking Land
Regenerative agriculture farmer and art teacher seek land
to host programs that connect young people to the earth
in a playful and empowering way. We offer dynamic classes
that include nature exploration, growing food, creative arts,
mindfulness, and empathy. We are looking for 1-3 acres with
access to forests, water, and a housing option.
6084 Farmer Seeking Land
Wanted land to lease. Two people who have combined 6
years of farming experience are looking to move current
operation to a larger and more suitable site. We are very
interested in permaculture ideals and use regenerative agri-
culture practices. We require access to water, electricity, and
some sort of shelter for storage.
6085 Landowner Seeking Farmer
For Lease/Business Partnership/joint ventures 2-16 Rolling
Acres in Mount Airy, close to 80 & Rte. 27. Seeking estab-
lished market farmer looking for more land or CSA folks
needing more space! We have plenty! Also willing to explore
joint ventures on remaining land. Electric, water & covered
garage provided. The land is ripe with potential, bring your
experience & ideas:)
6092 Landowner Seeking Farmer
This is our primary residence and we have about 30 acres
of available farmland-south-facing fields, year-round brook,
large fenced-in, irrigated established vegetable garden with
potential for another that has been used for wildflowers. We
have a large climate-controlled barn with electricity, smaller
storage shed and outside small greenhouse. Room in large
barn for some equipment, but we store vehicles and equip-
ment there too. Come take a look!
Learn more: http://www.mocolandlink.org/
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