No-till Gardening
Hot and sweet peppers growing in our no-till garden in early July.
No-till gardening caught our attention after watching a very interesting documentary film called “Back to Eden.” Further research indicated that establishing garden plots using a weed blocker (newspaper or cardboard), a layer of organic matter (such as mushroom soil), and a layer of wood chip mulch could reduce the negative effects of tilling including soil erosion, increased runoff , reductions in organic matter, negative effects on soil life, and increased fuel use.
In practice, we’ve seen our own pros and cons. The most obvious advantage is the moisture retention of the wood chip mulch. Summer 2024 brought two long dry spells - one at the beginning of the summer, one at the end - both of which lasted more than a few weeks. Even at that, we barely had to water, and the garden thrived.
The biggest drawback to the no-till method is definitely the weeds. We do not use herbicides in the garden, and the weed-blocking layer we used (some newspaper, some cardboard) has proved almost wholly ineffective. That’s left us to dig out each weed, individually, by hand. Yikes!
Meet Our Founding Farmer
When Andrew decided to retire from the U.S. Army, he began like many “transitioning service members” do. He joined LinkedIn, started writing a resume too soon, and began networking with any- and everyone who would share a few minutes with him. He figured he’d discover what he wanted to do, devise a plan to get there, and implement that plan. Straightforward, if not easy, wouldn’t you say?
Over the ensuing months and years, Andrew realized he harbored a strong entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to own his professional independence and schedule. He loved being outside and working with his hands. And so, Andrew and his family bought a small-acreage property in York, PA with the intention of starting a family farm.
Our Mission
KASEN Farms is a sustainable family farm that provides a variety of responsibly-raised and -grown products to local consumers through its farm stand and online presence. KASEN Farms was born from an innate desire to pursue self-sufficiency, encourage stronger relationships with local farmers and healthier eating, and reduce and reuse waste.
Delivery of 13 yards of mushroom soil for our garden plots - think we got enough?!
Our Vision
KASEN Farms will be a reliable and responsible contributor to the local economy. The business will be a sustainably-run diversified agricultural operation focused on delivering high-quality products to the local community and beyond.