Soil Health: The Challenge of Our Time
Soil health is defined as the ability of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem. The soil's ability to function, to cycle water and...
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Happy Dancing Blog
Jim Chamberlin
- Dec 2, 2022
- 4 min
Celebrate World Soil Day
World Soil Day is December 5th and is dedicated to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable...
Jim Chamberlin
- Sep 23, 2022
- 5 min
Soil Health, Part Three
Jim Chamberlin, Happy Dancing Turtle’s Conservation Technician, also operates a 109-acre diversified farm and forestry operation near...
Jim Chamberlin
- Sep 16, 2022
- 5 min
Soil Health, Part Two
Jim Chamberlin, Happy Dancing Turtle’s Conservation Technician, with his wife, Audra, operates a 109-acre diversified farm and forestry...
Jim Chamberlin
- Sep 9, 2022
- 5 min
Soil Health, Part One
Jim Chamberlin, Happy Dancing Turtle’s Conservation Technician, also operates a 109-acre diversified farm and forestry operation near...
Jenny Hill
- Aug 5, 2022
- 3 min
The Garden Files: Cover Crops, Who’s Bugging the Potatoes, Garlic Success, Berries, and Herbs
It’s August! This time of year, many gardens are a feast for the eyes with the many, many shades of green and colored pops of fruit and...
Jenny Hill
- Jun 17, 2022
- 2 min
The Garden Files: Nettle Tea, Skinks, Strawberries and Asparagus Harvest
Gardening is a complex process. So many variables–plant type, soil health, timing, spacing, companion planting–can contribute to...
Jenny Hill
- May 27, 2022
- 2 min
Controlling Cutworms, Cool Season Crops and Planting Lore
The Happy Dancing Turtle atrium/gardens/hoop houses are in full swing now and Gardener Dave has some tips to share about controlling...
Jenny Hill
- May 6, 2022
- 3 min
Community Gardens a Good Fit for Beginners
Maybe it happens to you every year about this time–the idea of tending a garden rises like an incredible mirage. You see yourself (tanned...
Jenny Hill
- Apr 15, 2022
- 3 min
Rethink Spring Yard Care
Rs for Resilient Living Series For most of us by this time of year, the idea of getting out to work in your yard, seeing the change of...
HDT Team
- Apr 1, 2022
- 3 min
Getting a Jump on the Growing Season
Happy Dancing Turtle’s Grower Dave starts 10,000+ seeds on campus every year. He grows plants in many ways–using hoop houses, aquaponics,...
HDT Team
- Mar 18, 2022
- 3 min
A Drop in the Bucket
World Water Day is March 22. This annual United Nations Observance celebrates water and raises awareness of the two billion people...
Dave Wilson
- Mar 4, 2022
- 3 min
Spot, Treat, and Prevent Aphids
Finding you have aphids is always a little upsetting, but knowing how to deal with them keeps what might be a little problem from turning...
Jim Chamberlin
- Feb 17, 2022
- 3 min
Fire’s Historic Use/Future Potential as a Tool in Food Systems
Just a couple of centuries ago in this great land, prairies, savannas, and forests thrived, rich in diversity, not just above ground, but...
Jim Chamberlin
- Dec 3, 2021
- 3 min
Ruminants for Resilience
Restorative and resilient farming practices are vital to producing quality crops and to maintaining soil health.
Jenny Hill
- Oct 29, 2021
- 3 min
Yard Waste or Garden Gold?
In the fall, once the gardens are put to bed, many of us feel the urge to “clean up” our yards. We tend to label fallen leaves, pine...
Jim Chamberlin
- Oct 14, 2021
- 3 min
The Reintroduction of Turkeys in Minnesota
For the last few months we’ve had a large flock of wild turkeys hanging out on our personal farm east of Brainerd, in the woods and our...
Colin Mclain
- Apr 22, 2021
- 2 min
Earth Day is Every Day
Earth Day began way back in 1970 in an effort to help highlight the importance of our planet and all that it provides. Attention was...
Colin Mclain
- Apr 8, 2021
- 2 min
Delaying Your Spring Cleanup to Promote Pollinator Friendly Habitats
How excited are you to get out and clean up your garden bed?! That dirty ol' snow pile has finally been kicked to the curb and you can...
Colin Mclain
- Apr 2, 2021
- 4 min
Salt Use and Snow Removal: Effects and Alternatives
Snow is an overwhelming part of our life up here in the northern states. Some people celebrate the coming snow storms by bundling up and...
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