Summary

Organic and sustainable farming guides focused on preventing problems through soil health and biodiversity. Covers core practices such as crop rotation, cover crops, compost and manure management, reduced tillage, and weed control options like mulches, stale seedbeds, solarization, and flame weeding. Explains transitioning to certified organic, including the 3-year rule, allowed and prohibited inputs, recordkeeping, and choosing a certifier. Provides detailed tools for rotations, intercropping and trap crops, and cover-crop selection and termination, plus Tennessee research showing earlier fall planting and grain–legume mixes can boost biomass and weed suppression. Also clarifies organic rules for treated wood near organic soil and crops.