Cultivating Communities

Cultivating Communities. The Farm at Shaker Village. , The Pleasant Hill Shakers believed the fruits of their labor to be blessings from God, and were careful not to waste any part of the harvest. The Farm honors this commitment today by blending traditional agriculture with modern sustainability practices, creating a closed-loop ecosystem that regenerates, rather than exhausts, itself over time., This garden resembles a successful community, with plants and animals working together to accomplish jobs that also benefit their neighbors. Each garden plot demonstrates how communities prosper through diverse relationships that will sustain this farm for generations., "Relish the plainest food, detecting and enjoying the fine flavors of the fruits of Mother Earth. To live simply is to live to nature, and enjoy her common blessings.", - Martha J. Anderson, Social Life and Vegetarianism (1893), (Captions):, Background Image: , The Farm at Shaker Village still raises vegetables in the historic location of the East Family kitchen garden., Polyculture , . Polyculture farms include multiple crop species planted together to imitate the diversity found in natural ecosystems. , . Crops may be grouped based on their chemical or structural relationships to each other. , . Mulch and compost add carbon and nitrogen back into the soil as crops deplete them., Micro-organisms , Micro-organisms are the key to healthy soil. Soils that are teeming with microscopic life constantly cycle nutrients and are incredibly resilient., Cover Crops , . Cover crops have the ability to bind with various soil nutrients, making them available for the next planting. , . Roots break apart large soil aggregates creating pathways for oxygen, water, nutrients, and other organisms to move freely., Animals , . Animals add nutrients to the soil through manure. , . Animals that root, dig, and scratch while foraging aerate the soil. , . Animals working in the garden reduce weeds by foraging, and control pests by eating larvae in the soil.