Regenerative agriculture is a vibrant system of farming principles and practices that increase biodiversity, build healthy soil, enhance ecosystem services, and prioritize the health and wellbeing of farmers. It shifts the paradigm from competing with nature to partnering with nature through sustainable practices to build resiliency within the ecosystem and the community. 

Regenerative agriculture is embedded in every aspect of our lives, the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and so much more! Starting from ground level, soil health is the foundation of all living things. At Raleigh City Farm we care deeply about building nutrient dense, living soil so that we can provide food for plants, insects, humans, and the ecosystem. Having healthy soil allows us to grow healthier produce to feed our local community! 

At Raleigh City Farm we encourage our community to know their farmers and purchase local food at our weekly farmstand so you can have a deeper relationship with your food and the meals you prepare. Regenerative agriculture allows us to understand that every living system is interconnected. Raleigh City Farm provides the space to be more connected to our local living systems, including our food system and the people in our community!

Finally, regenerative agriculture supports our future generations. As farmers work to build and revitalize food systems through these practices and principles, our children’s children will have access to healthy and nutrient dense produce.      

Build healthy soil 

• Protect our soil through cover crop and low till methods 

• We never leave bare soil open to the elements, if there is no cover crop growing we will use plastic tarps to keep the soil in place 

• Add organic amendments to increase nutrient density within the soil 

• Crop rotation to replenish nutrients in the soil 

Increase biodiversity 

• Using low till methods allows an undisturbed environment for microorganisms live and benefit the soil through decomposition and symbiotic relationships with plants 

• Incorporate a diverse cropping system instead of monocropping by planting multiple varieties, interplanting and companion planting 

• Provide wildlife habitat throughout the farm’s perimeter plants, trees, and shrubs. 

Enhance ecosystem services (derived from: USDA Climate Hub)  

• Provisioning services: food, forage, fiber, etc.  

• Regulating services: local climate, air, soil quality, carbon sequestration, disease control, pollination 

• Supporting services: plant and wildlife habitat, biological diversity  

• Cultural services: human societies, culture, recreation, tourism, aesthetic, artistic appreciation, and spirituality   

Prioritize the health and well being of our farmers 

• Our farm would not be able to function without our farmers! We provide extensive safety training for our staff, never ask them to work in extreme conditions, and understand when life happens. We pride ourselves in the fact that many of our previous employees or interns come back to volunteer regularly on the farm! 

Build resiliency 

• Throughout major weather events, we work to create a space that is resilient to the impacts of climate change on our environment 

• We incorporate rain gardens throughout the property to capture excess rainwater, as well as having rain water catchment systems to hold rainwater from the rooftops of our neighboring buildings 

• We implement integrated pest management practices to help decrease the impact of pest pressure throughout the season without using harsh chemicals. This can help build plants that are resistant to pests in our environment. 

• In recent years, we have seen the importance of building food resiliency within the community amidst political unrest, government changes, and climate disasters. At Raleigh City Farm, we are able to be a hub for our community to still have access to fresh, healthy, local produce amidst uncertainty.

Chemical pesticides pollute our air and water and are indiscriminate, killing pollinators and beneficial insects. More importantly, those pesticides kill not just visible insects or weeds but also harm the soil ecosystem that is home to billions of microorganisms. At Raleigh City Farm we work to create a holistic farm that works in harmony with nature, by reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides. The result is reduced cost, stronger plants, healthier wildlife, and a cleaner environment for everyone.

Insects are a given on any farm. Some insects are beneficial—they prey on the insects that may damage crops and provide valuable pollination. But some insects can damage fruits and vegetables, making them difficult to sell or can kill a crop entirely. Not all pests are insects.  Pests include insects, weeds, disease and mammals.  Conventional farmers spray toxic pesticides to get rid of pests. Pesticides are treating the symptom, not the cause. 

Here at Raleigh City Farm, we follow an Integrated Pest Management Plan. Raleigh City Farm does NOT use harmful pesticides to kill insects and disease or herbicides to kill weeds.  We focus on creating a balanced ecosystem that has the ability to work through infestations in a natural way.  We plant beneficial hedgerows consisting of herbs and flowers throughout the Farm to attract beneficial insects that eat harmful insects that may damage the crops. We may cautiously employ biological pesticides or strong scented herbal application on an as needed basis if a full loss of crops is imminent due to insect or disease pressure.

Since Raleigh City Farm always focuses on maintaining a healthy soil biology our crops are nutrient-rich. Healthy plants that are not stressed are also less likely to attract pests and not succumb to moderate damage. When you eat our nutrient dense produce you can have confidence that it is clear of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

The USDA defines integrated pest management as a “sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.”

Raleigh City Farm employs the 4 Pillars of IPM

These are listed in order from Prevention → Intervention as well as increasing toxicity.

1. Biological: Biological control means using living organisms to aid in pest management. This can include other insects, animals, pathogens, and parasitoids. They typically eat or parasitize the pest (in egg, larvae, or adult form) that is causing damage. Examples include ladybugs/beetles, parasitoid wasps, lacewings, and many more! 
   

2. Cultural: Manipulating environmental factors to negatively impact a pest and minimize its ability to establish itself in one area, reproduce, and survive. Cultural control is also often combined with biological control methods for effective management. Examples include planting pest-resistant cultivars, crop rotation, interplanting, sanitation, trap crops, mulching, and soil management.
   

3. Physical: Sometimes referred to as mechanical, this pillar involves physically removing the bug, blocking it from a certain area, or destroying its habitat. Examples include hand picking, vacuuming, insect netting, or removing infected plants to reduce the population.  
   

4. Chemical: Chemical pest control means applying pesticides. Ideally, pesticides are used on an as-needed basis and are not the only go-to for treatment and control. RCF only uses OMRI-listed pesticides - organic standards, like Bt.
   

Raleigh City Farm’s core competency areas for ecologically-based pest management

• Beneficial insects

• Natural habitat management

• Managing arthropod pests

• Managing plant diseases

• Weed management

• Intercropping

Pollination is a vital stage in the life cycle of all flowering plants. When pollen is moved within a flower or carried from one flower to another of the same species it leads to fertilization. This transfer of pollen is necessary for healthy and productive native & agricultural ecosystems.

Why are pollinators important?

Pollinators are often keystone species, meaning that they are critical to an ecosystem. The work of pollinators ensures full harvests of crops and contributes to healthy plants everywhere.

An estimated 1/3 of all foods and beverages is delivered by pollinators. In the U.S., pollination produces nearly $20 billion worth of products annually

Did you know that 75% of plants rely on pollinators to reproduce? Pollinators are crucial for the survival of many plant species!

What are examples of pollinators?

About 1,000 of all pollinators are vertebrates such as birds, bats, and small mammals. Most pollinators (about 200,000 species) are beneficial insects such as flies, beetles, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths, and bees.

How can you help?

To learn more about pollinators and what you can do to protect them, check out the great work of the Pollinator Partnership, the largest nonprofit organization in the world dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems.

What does Raleigh City Farm do to celebrate and support pollinators?

Raleigh City Farm has an apiary that includes two honey bee hives. We employ two bee experts who manage the hives and extract honey that is sold at our Farmstand. 

The farm is surrounded by a densely planted perimeter of native and flowering plants that attract pollinators.  Between the areas we grow crops there are beneficial hedgerows consisting of herbs and flowers throughout the Farm to attract beneficial insects. The perimeter and hedgerows are great for pollinators and beneficial insects, while they also make the Farm look attractive and provide flowers and herbs for sale to customers at our weekly Farmstand.  

In 2023 NC State Urban Pollinator Project identified 18 different types of bees on our 1.2 acre urban lot. We continue to increase native plantings to create habitats for the native bee population.  We recently installed several native bee hotels to encourage residency of these valued native bee species. 

Every year our farm is host to many Monarch butterflies making their voyage across the country.  Native Common milk weed grows abundantly along our perimeter.  It emerges from the ground each spring just in time to host eggs and continues to grow and spread through the fall for the migration back south.