SUMMER 2022 | Page 12

Something new under the sun

FLOWER

POWER

Something new under the sun

Modern agriculture is experiencing what we can only call a revolution . New realities are confronting all human beings on a scale that is difficult to comprehend and manage . Agriculture , at the magnitude that it is practiced currently , incurs a significant toll on the earth , from soil erosion and carbon sequestration to excessive emissions and overuse of fertilizers and pesticides . These impacts , collectively , exacerbate the bigger crisis of climate change , pushing us further past a point of no return . The aforementioned revolution is a direct and ambitious response to these cold hard facts , which is the pursuit of sustainable and regenerative agriculture . Innovators from all walks of life who are passionate about growing plants and raising animals have turned the industry on its head to ameliorate and to some degree reverse the effects of past methods . We like to think we are in this group of innovators , trying to change the farming landscape for the better .

My wife Sarah and I have always wanted to create something together that we could call our own . We weren ’ t sure if that was a hobby , a small business , or an intellectual project . Turns out it was all three ! We started our farming adventure in 2018 , with little more than a backyard and desire to be outdoors with our hands in the dirt .

My mother , Diana Precht , had been a gardener for decades and like most good parents , exposed me to her passions ( although it took me a good 30 years to embrace it ). She specialized in growing Dahlias , a cut flower species with incredible genetic diversity and stunning beauty . She inspired us to view some tutorial videos via
By Tom Precht
12 plenty I summer growing 2022