Discussing the geology and topography of this South Jersey farm
This is the second post in a series highlighting our Stewardship Department’s outreach successes this past Spring!
On May 7th, New Jersey Audubon partnered with Coastal Orchards LLC in Salem County to host a farm tour highlighting the benefits of several agricultural best management practices for the members of a local conservation organization. Through participation in New Jersey Audubon’s Healthy Land and Waters Grant program and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Coastal Orchards has been able to implement an array of conservation practices to protect several natural resource concerns, from soil health and water quality to wildlife habitat.
During the tour, Coastal Orchards showcased equipment they have modified themselves to minimize soil disturbance both before and during planting, known as “no-till”. This equipment included a no-till drill that they customized to plant squash, and a tractor attachment that minimizes soil disturbance in fruit and vegetable field bed preparations. Disturbing the soil during crop planting can lead to erosion, increased runoff, and lead to poor soil health.
We also explored two wildlife habitat projects; a waterway that was built to prevent erosion and sedimentation of a nearby sensitive wetland habitat, and a former cropland area that was planted with wildflowers and native grasses to protect the headwaters of a major waterbody and provide habitat for the American Black Duck, a Working Lands for Wildlife species.
To learn more about Coastal Orchards and their innovative conservation projects, please visit Agriculture and Conservation | New Jersey Audubon (njaudubon.org) and listen to South Jersey Water Savers Series Part 2 by POP FM 99.9 – South Jersey’s Positive Radio Station (spotify.com).
Photos by Alyssa Bright
