Our Farming Philosophy
A Core Set of Values
While each farmer in the Plant It Forward network makes their own growing and land management decisions, farmers across our network share a core set of values that guide their farm management decisions.
At PIF, we believe in an agroecological approach to growing. For many PIF-network farmers, this means practicing a traditional approach to farming that mixes a wide variety of crops in the same field, and focuses on building a healthy soil ecology through practices like applying organic matter heavily and frequently to the fields.
Sustainability
At Plant It Forward, we take pride in what we are growing and feeding to our community. Every crop is grown thoughtfully and intentionally. While each PIF farmer has their own individual growing style, all the farmers in our network make decisions based on a core set of principles.
First, because PIF farms are located within urban Houston they are compact. Each of our urban farms are less than one acre. But small does not necessarily mean low producing. By using bio-intensive planting techniques, combined with an agroecological approach, PIF farmers feed over 500 Houston families each week on just six (6) acres of urban farmland.
Moreover, we seek to create an endurable local food system. In other words, we are in this for long haul. That’s why sustainability is the core of our farming and business philosophies at Plant It Forward. We approach sustainability from a triple-bottom-line perspective, meaning we focus equally on people, economics, and environment.
People Sustainability
This means working smarter, not harder. We promote efficient practices that enable PIF network farmers to enjoy a lifelong career in agriculture.
Economic Sustainability
Ensuring the farmer’s livelihood is always top-of-mind at PIF. All of our growing and sales decisions serve the financial well-being of the producer.
Environmental Sustainability
We strive to be responsible land stewards by using regenerative growing practices. And because we prioritize health – for farmers, the agri-ecosystem, neighbors, and customers – we never use harmful pesticides or herbicides.
No. We follow organic best-practices, which prohibits use of GMOs. Most of our seeds are hybrid varieties and some are heirloom varieties.
Our farmers grow employing traditional and sustainable methods with a bio-intensive approach that provides for high productivity per square foot.
- Labor: Our growing practices rely largely on hand labor and low-impact machinery. As needed, our farmers choose to contract labor with other growers, often drawing upon the local refugee community due to their agricultural experience.
- Soil inputs: We do not use any synthetic fertilizers. We apply compost several times a year. Our methods involve strong reliance on natural mulches to maintain biomass and protect an active soil microbiome.
- Water: We use city-supplied water at every step of our process, from growing to packing.
- Pest management: Our primary pest management strategies are preventative, to include building healthy soil, installing healthy plants, and managing bio-diverse farms – growing a wide variety of plant species every season. Our pesticide use is extremely sparse. When we make the determination that pesticide use is warranted, the products we use are organic-certified.
