Nitrogen Fixers

 During our project we learned that Nitrogen fixation is one of the most important things the hedgerow does for the organic farm.

According to the mostly natives nursery a native hedgerow is “are what divide the fields, border the estates, line the driveways and grace the vineyards. They are the in-between, the buffer, the place where the interesting stuff happens if you do it right. They often are made up of a variety of plants to create more diversity to the eye and to the beneficial insects that you wish to attract. They provide food and habitat for small mammals, insects and birds, all of the creatures that make up the balance that keeps the environment healthy.” These native hedgerows have a number of benefits both to the soil itself and to the ecosystem as a whole. The hedgerows benefit the soil by adding a constant supply of organic matter, which increases the aggregate stability of the soil. Because the hedgerows are never tilled or harvested the soil is never left bare and exposed to wind and water that could cause erosion. These hedgerows also improve the entire ecosystem by increasing biodiversity and providing habitat for pest consuming birds and insects.