Leading Edge Farm Demonstration — The Healthy Headwaters Lab

Partner Project: Innovative Soil Protection and Regeneration Methods – a demonstration farm in Essex

Project Overview

Local Essex region farmer, Brian Market, is a multi-generational farmer committed to advancing regenerative practices across his farm fields. Brian has converted his home farm into a working demonstration farm that is testing a several farming techniques that include cover crops, harvesting methods and biological amendments, all with the goal of improving soil organic carbon and ecosystem health. The Healthy Headwaters Lab will be monitoring various soil and water health attributes (namely carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) on a subset of these farm plots as part of a carbon-characterization study. We will also be sharing stories of leading edge farmers like Brian and members of our Farm Advisory Board as part of an effort to build a community of practice and enhance replication and validation across the region.

Objectives

Learn by doing. Brian will implement, demonstrate and communicate the feasibility of various innovative farming techniques (inter-planting/inter-seeding, relay cropping, bio strip planting, green planting, cover crops) on his farm & include us in the journey.
Individual research projects will evaluate and compare soil and freshwater attributes related to nutrient cycling (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) across a gradient of farming tillage and organic matter amendment activities.

Outcomes

Characterize carbon in soil and water across agricultural landscapes and drain systems.
Generate baseline data across a range of farming practices in the region.
The work will allow us to assess potential ‘tools’ for the ‘toolbox of options’ to farm sustainably in the Essex region