Greetings, nature enthusiasts! Are you in search of a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to maintain the walkways in your small farm or home garden? Look no further than the magnificent living walkways! Today, I shall present to you five compelling reasons why you should consider installing living walkways in your small farm.

Before we delve into the benefits of living walkways, let us consider the alternatives. Cultivating aisles regularly, mulching pathways heavily, or laying down large swaths of plastic or landscape fabric may seem like easy solutions to suppress weeds and make life "easier" for farmers. However, I implore you to consider the wondrous living walkways for a sustainable alternative.

Reason #1: Living Walkways Feed the Soil

Living walkways provide a natural way to feed the soil that the alternatives cannot match. Weeds appear in walkways because nature desires something growing on every centimeter of soil surface. Roots from plants, whether they are deemed as "weeds" or desired vegetation, offer sugar exudates and nutrients that nourish all the microorganisms in the soil. In turn, the hardworking soil microbes mine minerals and draw up water for the plants, creating a beautiful symbiotic relationship. By supporting this trade route from plant leaf tips down to fungi and vertebrates in the soil, farmers will see an increase in production and a healthier ecosystem on their farm.

Reason #2: Living Walkways Reduce Runoff

The traditional alternatives to living walkways create gutters that wash nutrients off the field or get washed away themselves during heavy rain. In contrast, living walkways offer a naturally absorbent surface attached to the ground by the roots, preventing soil erosion and holding all the soil in place during a downpour. The rich soil life rapidly soaks up the rainwater and creates an absorbent sponge that slowly releases water back to your crops' roots as they need it over the coming days.

Reason #3: Living Walkways Are Easy to Maintain

Farmers may assume that living walkways are hard to maintain, but this is a common myth. By consistently mowing the walkways, they are easier to maintain than spreading heavy mulch, scuffling with a hoe, or pulling weeds out of landscape fabric. For example, at our farm, we mow once a week, religiously, using a mulching push mower with an adjustable height deck and a strong engine. We've created aisles that are 21" in width, the exact width of the push mower, and mowing the aisles is a breeze.

Reason #4: Living Walkways Provide a Cooling Effect

Living walkways have a natural cooling effect that lowers the overall temperature of your farm by a few degrees. In contrast, landscape fabric, cultivated, or mulched walkways tend to create a heat sink, particularly if your soil is dark or you're using dark compost for mulch. Living walkways offer a sustainable way to keep your farm cooler, benefiting both you and your crops.

Reason #5: Living Walkways Beautify Your Farm

Last but not least, living walkways can add a touch of natural beauty to your farm. They create a natural and welcoming atmosphere that connects you and your visitors to the land. Living walkways can help your farm stand out as unique and eco-friendly.

Now that you're aware of the benefits of living walkways, you may be wondering how to implement them. Here are some simple steps to get started:

1. Choose the right plants: Select plants for your living walkways that have shallow roots and can withstand foot traffic, such as clover, grasses, and low-growing herbs.
2. Prepare the soil: Ensure that the soil is well-drained and free from weeds. You may also amend the soil with compost or other organic matter to improve its fertility.
3. Plant your living walkways: Sow your chosen seeds or plant plugs in the walkways at the appropriate spacing. Water them regularly until they become established.
4. Maintain your living walkways: Consistency is key when it comes to maintaining living walkways. Set a schedule for mowing and stick to it. You may also need to pull any weeds that appear in the walkways to prevent them from spreading.

By following these simple steps, you can create beautiful and functional living walkways that benefit both your crops and the environment. Let us embrace these sustainable solutions and work together to create a healthier and more harmonious world.