|
Regenerative Design
Journal Teachings, reflections, analysis and case studies from land, life and business that regenerate.
|
|
In the Sun & Bloom Permaculture Farm School Village Journal, we document the real-time unfolding of a diversified regenerative farm in Zone 7A / 6B —where ecological processes, soil-building systems, seasonal rhythms, and community-based enterprise converge. Through weekly reflections from the land, we explore how working farms can become living classrooms—cultivating resilient food systems, restoring soil health, and nurturing relationships between Earth, People, and our shared Future. Week 10 in Zone 7A/6B - Warming Soil, Rapid Growth & Systems in Motion Ecological Context – Between Frost & Acceleration We felt a bit of cold again this past week. A reminder that frost is still possible here in Zone 7A (edge of 6B). Heavy rain and thunderstorms are moving through, and the soil is being charged with moisture. But overall, something has shifted. Daytime temperatures are now reaching the high 60s and even mid-70s. Nights are staying above 40 — some even above 50 degrees. That changes everything. This is the moment when work speeds up, when we begin planting outdoors intentionally. Some rows will receive early crops. Others will receive cover crops to prepare for later successions. It’s still early spring — but it’s no longer dormant. And yes — this is also almost the time we begin looking for morels in Missouri. Morel season in south-central Missouri typically begins when soil temperatures reach around 50–55°F, often in late March into April depending on rainfall and warmth. With these current temperatures and moisture patterns, we’ll start scouting soon. Spring is not theoretical anymore. High Tunnels – Managing Heat, Managing Growth Inside the high tunnels, the acceleration is visible. In our oldest tunnel — now in its sixth year of compost applications, no-till management, cover crops, and seasonal animal integration — the soil feels alive and ready. Some beds are already planted. Others are being prepared. Growth is noticeably faster now that nighttime temperatures are no longer dipping into the 20s and 30s. Warm days + moderate nights = exponential growth. On hot days, we open doors and screen doors to manage airflow. The large tunnel has partial automation, but others still require manual management. Ventilation now becomes as important as fertility. We’ll be earlier to market than anything grown outdoors. And yet — outdoor planting has begun as well. Resilience means stacking systems. The Farm Store – Opening Soon We’re preparing to open the farm store within the next couple of weeks. We’re already eating salads from the tunnels. Close friends are enjoying greens. CSA members will begin receiving produce shortly. We’ll likely open a smaller CSA round for those who want less commitment (If you are reading this, you want a CSA membership, and it is still March 2026, reach out :). Some returning members made deeper seasonal commitments with added benefits — and we’re grateful for that trust. We’re also developing a farm credit exchange model for those who want to work on the farm in exchange for food before partner roles fully open. Food grown on the land. Sold on the land. Shared from the land. There’s something powerful about that. Microgreens – Seed Energy, Concentrated Nutrition Right now we have: • Radish Mix — bright, slightly spicy, rich in antioxidants and glucosinolates • Brassica Mix — mild, nutty, nutrient-dense with concentrated phytonutrients Our microgreens are not grown in soil, they’re powered by the stored energy of the seed itself. In their earliest stage, they contain dense concentrations of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds. What doesn’t sell fresh is freeze-dried into powder. The growing medium moves into vermicompost. Nothing is wasted. Closed-loop systems in action. (Have you seen the reel we made about it?) Compost – Turning at 140°F Our compost pile reached 150°F and held there for nearly two weeks. This week it dropped to 140°F — the signal that it’s time to turn. Turning brings the outside material inward and moves the interior outward. We introduce oxygen, rebalance moisture, and re-ignite biological activity. Yes, some off-gassing occurs. But we also stimulate deeper decomposition. This is the phase where compost matures intentionally. Our Master Composting Workshop (April 25, 2026) will go A–Z: • Understanding soil biology • Carbon-to-nitrogen ratios • Fungal vs bacterial compost • Balanced compost systems • Materials selection • Compost extracts & teas • On-farm fertilizer creation from forest resources Healthy soil is not accidental - It is managed life. Teaching in the Community This past week we taught four sessions in the community at Train to Sustain, and event led by a local Food Pantry Non-Profit that is starting to show the way in Ecological and Resilience thinking locally, and we love that (Anna Maria is putting lots of hearth in this organization as one of the Board Directors. The sessions were: • Vermicomposting • Regenerative Garden Design with Permaculture • Kitchen Herbalism • Natural Beekeeping The level of interest was inspiring. Several participants committed to upcoming workshops — including mushrooms and compost. Momentum is building. Mushrooms – Mycelium Waking As temperatures warm, we begin checking logs for mycelial growth at the ends. In Missouri, shiitake and oyster logs inoculated the previous year can begin fruiting in spring once temperatures stabilize between roughly 50–75°F and moisture is adequate. March fruiting is possible in southern Missouri, especially after rainfall. You’ll see white mycelium colonization at the cut ends before flushes begin. Spring moisture + warming temperatures = activation. Mushroom cultivation remains one of the most elegant regenerative systems available — woodland-based, low-input, and long-producing. Our Mushroom Log Intensive(on March 14 or 21, 2026) will walk through: • Tree identification • Log selection & timing • Inoculation methods • Stacking & management • Long-term production cycles Everyone will take a log home with them. Regenerative Gardening Intensive We’ll also be launching our Regenerative Garden Production Intensive for people that want to grow a lot of their food, and farmers that want to make a living from it on May 2, 2026. This will cover: • Soil preparation systems • Crop planning & rotations • Mulch strategies • Water management • Integrating compost systems • Succession planting • Designing for resilience instead of reaction A garden can either extract from soil and its environment — or build and regenerate them. We teach the second path. The Permaculture Farm School Village – Expanding We are currently operating six enterprises here on the farm. Each will eventually have a dedicated leader. Between April 1 and June 1, we’ll begin bringing in partners to steward these systems more deeply - so you will see new faces on the farm and our social media. We haven’t yet broken ground on the new property — but that step is coming soon with the support of those who believe in this work. This is no longer just a farm. It’s becoming a village of practice. Invitation If you feel the momentum of spring… If you’re ready to move from inspiration to implementation… Come learn with us. Register for workshops. Visit the farm store when we open. Join the CSA. Step into partnership conversations. Spring doesn’t wait. Neither should we. The Mushroom Log Workshop is one of the most elegant practical regenerative skills we teach — a low-input, woodland-based food system that produces for years. We are teaching it both on March 14th and 21st (Saturdays). Grab you spot quick, they are more than 20% off till March 6st:
https://www.sunandbloomfarms.com/store/p88/mushroom-log-workshop-lebanon-missouri.html Watch the Field Journal in Motion If you would like to see these systems in motion — the compost steaming, the seedlings growing, the mushroom logs stacked — we invite you to watch this week’s Field Journal video on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SunAndBloomFarms Subscribe to our Permaculture Newsletter Receive reflections like this — free, oncex, twice, or more per week — directly in your inbox: https://mailchi.mp/sunandbloomfarms/sjcl3tqy3f Upcoming Opportunities
If you are local, we invite you to participate. If you are following from afar, we invite you to learn alongside us. |
AuthorLucian and Anna Maria Archives
August 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed