On July 16th the NOLA Artist Incubator held a community workshop at Galvez Garden on the use of cover crops in regenerative agriculture.

We sowed Crimson Clover, a versatile legume cover crop for our climate zone and excellent nitrogen producer for our raised beds.

Participants learned about the use of cover crops to suppress weeds and increase soil health while gaining hands on experience in the process.

We did some weeding and cast seeds in three beds to replenish the soil that has previously been growing our tomatoes, a nitrogen depleting crop. After planting the Crimson Clover we added a thin layer of mulch to retain moisture but allow for enough sunlight to encourage seed germination. With the aid of several rainy days, in just under a week the seeds sprouted.

Behind the scenes we fielded many questions through our social media account from gardeners throughout the south, asking questions about types of cover crops and benefits among different varieties. We chose Crimson Clover for our garden because in addition to the ease of planting, they are pollinator friendly, increasing biodiversity on site.

It’s hard work operating a garden in the summer in the south. The work we did will protect our soil while we take a break in these beds and serve as a living mulch when we plant more crops in the fall. Thank you to everyone who participated!

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This workshop is part of a series of free educational activities at Galvez Garden, made possible with support from the New Orleans Culture and Recreation Fund.