How to Conserve Water at an Urban, Mountain Desert Farm

NCAT’s headquarters in Butte, Montana, has a complicated growing climate to say the least. That makes John Wallace’s job as farm manager of NCAT’s Small-Scale Intensive Farm Training program – or SIFT – challenging as well. In this episode of Voices from the Field, John talks with NCAT Energy Analyst Victorian Smart about the SIFT farm’s strategies for conserving water. Since the farm is located in what is essentially a high mountain desert and relies on city water, those strategies are essential, as is increasing organic matter in its decomposed-granite soil.   ATTRA Resources: Local Food Systems Water Management Soils and Compost Cherries and Berries in a Cold Climate Hydroponic Trials at NCAT’s SIFT Farm SIFT 2018: Lessons from a Small-Scale Urban Intensive Farm SIFT 2019: Continuing Lessons from a Small-Scale Urban Intensive Farm  Contact John Wallace and Victorian Smart via email at [email protected] and [email protected]. Please complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast. You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG. Learn about NCAT’s other cutting-edge sustainable agriculture programs.