Backyard Soup, AKA Regenerative Farming

Today I found myself fondly remembering my childhood and the days of summer. Us Gen X kids were outside all day, keeping busy, laughing, playing and of course creating all kinds of backyard concoctions. As I sloshed my fermented borage slurry around my raised beds, and as I was preparing my latest batch of "soup" I thought to myself, we've always done this!

But now it has a name; regenerative farming. 

This concept isn't new. It emphasizes soil health, minimizing soil disturbances, cover crops, managing carbon, and saving water. I think so many of our parents and grandparents, practiced these same principles. Using what you had on hand, instead of going in to town, or spending money on things they could make themselves.

Living in New Mexico and witnessing the dust storms over the past few weeks, I am reminded just how important all of this is. Keeping our soil rich and in place, and using what we have, helps ensure the health of future generations. 

Making your own "Soup" is easy enough! Simply fill a bucket with garden weeds and scraps. Borage and Comfrey are especially useful and nutritive. Cover weeds with water and weigh down the green matter with a rock or brick. Cover and leave for 2 weeks. (I use a screw lid, to avoid pests, bugs and stench!) After 2 weeks, strain out the goop. Dilute in a 1 to 10 ratio and give back to your garden! I usually water really well after adding this mixture to my garden beds.