In this video, go behind the scenes at Athiana Acres in Richmond, BC, where Farm Director Daniel Garfinkel and Senior Grower Sarah Foster are building soil health through cover cropping. From the beginning, the farm has avoided compost, focusing instead on improving organic matter through diverse cover crop trials.
See how winter rye, field peas, and even flowering crops like dahlias and marigolds help reduce compaction, support pollinators, and protect the soil in high-clay conditions. With the help of the FarmFolk CityFolk seed cleaning trailer, Athiana now uses self-saved, certified organic seed for most of its blends.
Without irrigation, the team times planting with rainfall and manages crops through mowing. In just a few years, they have boosted organic matter from 0.8% to 3%, showing that thoughtful cover cropping can transform soil health and crop resilience.
