Protecting Our Waterways, From Orchard to Ocean

Frog Hollow Farm
A collage of three images, two of which are depicting close up images of green leaves and grasses, and the third of which shows a vibrant green orchard with lush grass between trees.

With World Environment Day this week and World Ocean Day just around the corner, we’re thinking about how the work on our farm connects to something much bigger: water. From our orchard soil to the Pacific Ocean, the way food is grown has a lasting impact on our waterways.

The Problem: Conventional Ag and a Ripple Effect

Many conventional, large-scale farms prioritize short-term yields over long-term health. Pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are used to maximize production, and soil is often left bare after harvest. But those decisions affect more than just the farm; they also deplete soil of microbial life and send synthetic nutrients, chemicals, and soil sediments into nearby waterways through runoff, especially during rainstorms ¹. Eventually, those waterways empty into larger bodies of water like lakes, bays, and oceans, negatively impacting our clean water resources. 

One big consequence of this style of production is nutrient pollution. Fertilizers high in nitrogen and phosphorus fuel explosive algae blooms in rivers and coastal areas. As those algae die off, they decompose in a process that depletes oxygen from the water, creating “dead zones”—areas where almost nothing can survive. The Gulf of Mexico has one of the largest dead zones in the world, largely due to agricultural runoff from across the Midwest ².

And it all starts in the soil.

An Alternative Solution: Regenerative Farming

Frog Hollow Farm chooses a different approach: Regenerative organic practices help us grow delicious fruit and protect clean water both locally and far downstream. Here's how:

  • Cover Cropping: The understory of our orchard is in continual cover. These living plants help hold soil in place. Their root systems encourage soil porosity, which allows rainwater to infiltrate and be stored in the soil rather than wash away with the nutrients applied to it. This results in healthier soil, less erosion, and cleaner water.
  • No Synthetic Pesticides: Our organic, regenerative system does not use synthetic pesticides. Instead, we foster beneficial insects, birds, and soil organisms to keep pests in check and our ecosystem in balance.
  • Compost for Soil Health: We apply nutrient-rich compost to foster thriving networks of microbes and fungi. This supports increased soil organic matter and improves the soil’s ability to store water. Research suggests that for every 1% increase in soil organic matter, soil can hold up to 25,000 more gallons of water per acre. 

Why It Matters

Healthy soil holds water. Covered soil stays put. And clean water depends on both. Every step we take to tend to our land is built on thought and care for the ecosystems beyond it—from nearby creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and ultimately the Pacific Ocean. 

So as we mark World Environment Day, and World Ocean Day next week, we’re proud to be part of the movement to farm in harmony with nature as we help keep our waterways clean, from orchard to ocean. Join us in raising a glass of clean water (or a delicious Frog Hollow Apricot) to regenerative farming!

 

Sources:

[1] https://www.epa.gov/nps/nonpoint-source-agriculture 

[2] https://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/deadzone/index.html#:~:text=What%20Causes%20the%20Dead%20Zone,such%20as%20flooding%20and%20hurricanes.

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