Feeding the soil life that feeds your plants Introduction: Compost as the Heart of Regeneration In a regenerative garden, compost is more than just a soil amendment — it’s the heartbeat of the system. Compost brings dead matter back to life, transforming kitchen scraps, leaves, and garden waste into humus rich with beneficial microorganisms. When…
Mulch protects soil and helps it stay alive. A good mulch conserves moisture, keeps soil temperatures even, and adds organic matter that feeds earthworms and microbes. Healthy soil is living soil—and mulch is its best protection. Why Mulch Bare soil dries quickly, erodes, and loses fertility. A layer of mulch shades the soil, reduces evaporation,…
In my Sonoma Valley garden, I’ve practiced minimal tillage for over a decade. Beds that haven’t been turned in years are loose, rich, and full of earthworms. Mulching with straw and compost keeps soil life thriving, and plants develop strong roots that don’t need deep digging to flourish. Minimal tillage is both practical and regenerative—it…
In my Sonoma Valley garden, soil is the foundation of everything I grow. Before planting, I always take time to observe, test, and read the soil. This tells me whether it’s fertile, well-structured, and alive with microbes—or if it needs some natural rebalancing. Understanding your soil first allows you to feed it, not just your…
Polycultures and companion planting are at the heart of regenerative gardening. Rather than growing a single crop in isolation, these practices mimic natural ecosystems—combining multiple plant species to improve soil health, increase biodiversity, reduce pests, and maximize yields. Over 30 years of gardening experience has shown me that careful planning and observation can turn even…
Native plants are the trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses that naturally occur in your region—they’ve evolved over thousands of years to thrive in the local climate, soil, and ecosystem. Because they’re perfectly adapted to your environment, they require less water and fertilizer, and they resist local pests and diseases better than most non-native plants. In…
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