Glenn Pulse: NRCS OMS 823 & Urban Organic Regen Farming
By SDSPA
TL;DR: Urban farmers can leverage government conservation contracts to implement regenerative practices, boosting yields and building resilient food systems in cities.
- NRCS EQIP OMS 823 supports urban regenerative farming.
- Practices include compost, cover crops, and soil building.
- Cost-share funding up to 75% available.
- Intensive rotation increases urban plot yields by 30%.
- Improved water retention boosts drought tolerance.
Why it matters: These programs provide a framework and financial assistance for urban farmers to adopt sustainable practices, leading to increased food production, environmental benefits, and community resilience in urban settings.
Do this next: Explore NRCS EQIP programs and their applicability to your urban farming project.
Recommended for: Urban farmers, community garden organizers, and policymakers interested in sustainable urban food production and policy support.
In this practitioner-led case study video, Glenn Pulse details implementing NRCS EQIP OMS 823 contracts for organic regenerative urban farming, showcasing real-world benefits, awards, and outcomes for resilient food production. Key practices covered include tailored conservation measures like compost application, cover cropping, and soil-building techniques adapted to urban constraints such as limited space and contaminated soils. Pulse outlines step-by-step contract navigation: eligibility assessment, practice selection (e.g., high tunnels for extended seasons, pollinator habitats), cost-share funding up to 75%, and compliance monitoring via soil tests showing organic matter increases from 2% to 6% within two years. Outcomes highlight yield boosts—urban plots producing 30% more per square foot via intensive rotations—and resilience gains, like drought tolerance from improved water retention. Awards mentioned include regional NRCS recognitions for innovation in self-sufficiency contexts. Practical insights for urban permaculturists: integrating chickens for pest control and manure cycling, mulching to suppress weeds without tillage, and agroforestry elements like fruit guilds on rooftops. The video demonstrates measurable impacts: reduced erosion by 90%, biodiversity surges with native pollinators, and carbon sequestration verified by soil sampling. Pulse shares challenges overcome, such as zoning hurdles and startup costs mitigated by grants, providing templates for grant applications and practice logs. This equips viewers with concrete tools for regenerative living in cities, emphasizing scalable models for community food security and economic viability through direct sales. Expert tips include monitoring microbial activity with DIY kits and phasing practices for progressive soil regeneration, backed by before-after data from his operations.