Even as an everyday gardener, embracing regenerative farming and adopting organic and natural gardening practices is the key to sustainable and healthy gardening.
At the core, thinking regeneratively means leaving things in a better way than you found them.
In the growing world, regenerative is the opposite of conventional agriculture, which treats the land as a commodity to be tapped for resources without consequence. It is the natural evolution of “sustainable.” If sustainable means low-to zero impact on the land, then regenerative means having a positive impact on the land and soil health. Regenerative thinking, and gardening, are about renewal not extraction,
In practice, this means challenging convention and opting for organic and natural gardening practices that work with nature—instead of relying on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides that work against it.
At the heart of it, it’s all about soil health.
As the foundation of our gardens, we need to nourish the soil by working with nature. Healthy soil is a home for beneficial microorganisms, fungi, and earthworms, creating a vibrant ecosystem that supports plant growth and higher nutrient density while fostering natural resilience against pests and disease.
Sounds Great. What Can I Do?
Many sustainable, organic gardening practices are similar to regenerative farming—
things like composting, mulching, and feeding soil with organic-matter based fertilizers and natural amendments. All of these help unlock the full potential of our soil, gardens, and the food we grow in them.
And, there’s icing on the cake. These methods help save water, conserve resources, minimize waste, promote a healthier garden ecosystem, and have a positive impact on the environment. (Healthy soils help draw down carbon!)
We promise, no garden is too small to make a difference. So, grab your shovel and join us on our journey to grow healthier soil, for healthier food, people, and planet.
By focusing on a few, basic natural gardening methods, we can nurture the health of our gardens and the well-being of our families. And by becoming responsible stewards of our land and growing healthy foods for ourselves and families, we’re supporting a movement that helps cultivate a working relationship between our food and the natural world.
Need some tips to get started or continue? Follow us on Instagram for weekly ideas.
Take it a step further with our guide to composting.
Here’s What We’re Doing
At Return, we’ll keep doing our part to raise awareness of the benefits of regenerative growing, on the agricultural level, and in our own growing beds.
We’ll also continue to produce good-for-the-earth growing supplies that help grow a healthier soil, food, people, and planet.
