Regenerative Agriculture
Healthy soil is the foundation of agriculture.
One of the most important characteristics of healthy soil is its organic matter content. Organic matter improves soil structure and water management, nourishes soil life, and helps make farming more efficient and profitable.
You cannot buy the benefits of healthy soil in a can or a bag. Continuous soil cover, living roots, organic fertilisers and compost are the best ways to revitalise soils. On their own, our products are simply good products; the knowledge we provide alongside them is what makes them outstanding.
We created énkiskertem.hu for enthusiastic gardeners and owners of small gardens who want to cultivate their own plots sustainably. We aim to share the lessons and experience we have gained in field-scale farming in a way that can be successfully applied to gardens of just 50 or 500 square metres.
What is regenerative agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture aims to improve the soil as a whole. This requires as little disturbance as possible, continuous soil cover, living roots, diverse crop rotations and organic sources of nutrients.
The benefit of soil regeneration is increased soil fertility, allowing us to achieve the same yield with less work and fewer inputs. The quality and nutritional value of our crops, vegetables and fruit also improve.
So is this organic farming?
No, regenerative agriculture does not necessarily mean organic farming, although a biological approach is characteristic of organic farming too. The essence of regenerative agriculture is that it builds on the soil, particularly soil life and soil biology.
Soil regeneration is based on the five principles of soil health:
- Continuous soil cover: a protective “shield” safeguards the soil against erosion and environmental stresses.
- Minimal soil disturbance: excessive tillage damages soil structure, and consequently its biology and chemistry.
- Diverse crop rotations: our aim is to mimic diverse plant communities.
- Living roots 365 days a year: living plants continually feed soil life.
- Integrating livestock: grazing helps improve the cycling of organic matter.
You can read more here about the five principles of soil health and how to apply them.
How does this benefit me?
One major advantage of soil regeneration is cost savings: we can produce the same amount of crops with less time, labour, money and energy. The aim is not a record yield, but an optimal yield characterised by high nutritional quality, an attractive appearance and sustainability.
If you grow food in your garden for your own consumption, the benefits of appealing, tasty vegetables and fruit free from harmful substances need little explanation. If you also grow produce for sale, you can be confident that food produced this way will hold its own even in the most competitive markets.
If you would like to learn more about regenerative practices, explore our Knowledge Base and browse our Soil Health Guide.