Growing a Greener World Season 6 Episode 15 The Rodale Institute, Champions of Organic Gardening

Growing a Greener World is a television series that focuses on sustainable living and gardening practices. In the season 6 episode 15 titled "The Rodale Institute, Champions of Organic Gardening," the host Joe Lamp'l visits the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania to learn about their innovative approach to organic gardening.

The Rodale Institute was founded in 1947 by J.I. Rodale, who was a pioneer in organic farming. His philosophy was that healthy soil produces healthy crops, which in turn, leads to healthy people. The Institute has been at the forefront of organic farming research and education for more than 70 years.

During the episode, Lamp'l meets with the Rodale Institute's Executive Director, Jeff Moyer, who explains that their mission is to create a regenerative organic food system that improves soil health, increases biodiversity, and produces nutrient-dense food. The Institute conducts multiple research projects to help farmers and gardeners improve their soil and techniques by reducing the inputs to their crops.

Lamp'l gets to see some of the research on his visit, including the dairy cow pasture where the cows graze on an organic mix of alfalfa, clover, and other grasses. These grazing cows help to improve the soil by distributing their manure across the field, which enhances soil fertility, water holding capacity and encourages an active soil microorganism population.

Another unique project that the Institute is involved in is the organic no-till project. This method involves planting cover crops such as hairy vetch and rye, and crimping them down into the soil instead of tilling it, practice that helps to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals, decrease erosion and maximize the nutrients in the soil.

The developers at the Institute also implement the Agriculture Supported Communities(ASS) project. This project that allows the Rodale Institute to secure funds from the community through subscriptions towards preparing fields for farming; thereby, promoting healthy food diets in the community.

In addition to research, the Rodale Institute offers training programs for farmers and gardeners. The Organic Farming Certification Program teaches the methods of organic farming and techniques that can be used to achieve certification, and the Seed Saving Course focuses on saving seeds to enhance biodiversity of crops and help develop crops that are adaptable to climate change.

The "The Rodale Institute, Champions of Organic Gardening" episode is a true tribute to the Rodale Institute's work that has been dedicated towards helping farmers and gardeners to achieve fuller, prosperous farm operations while impacting the health of their community. Lamp'l's visit to the Institute provides an informative and inspiring tour that encourages viewers to learn more about sustainable, organic gardening practices and their benefits to nature and humanity.