NRCS North Dakota can provide financial assistance for high tunnels, used to extend the growing season and to protect plants from harsh weather, air pollution and pests. By making local produce available for more months in the year, fewer resources are used to transport food to plates.

As experts in soil health, NRCS conservationists can advise urban growers on things like what cover crops to grow, using farmers’ soil tests and our soil surveys.

NRCS helps create pollinator plans to develop habitats that attract birds and beneficial insects, such as butterflies and bees, and improve plant health. Pollinator plantings provide habitat along with providing nectar as a food source contributing to a healthy ecosystem that is essential for farmers to grow food.

Mulches are applied to the soil to conserve water, reduce erosion, suppress weeds, and maintain or increase soil organic matter. Natural mulches such as straw, hay, woodchips, and compost are widely used in production beds and other areas throughout the urban garden and high tunnel.

Together with urban growers, NRCS North Dakota promotes water conservation through practices like drip irrigation and more.

Plants can help to reduce soil erosion, conserve energy, reduce heating bills, and serve as a sound barrier in urban neighborhoods and provide shelter for plants and create habitat for wildlife.

NRCS North Dakota can help with pest management practices-advising on crop rotations and various types of mulches to reduce weeds and manage insects that harm crops.

Composting is the aerobic decomposition of organic materials—like manure, crop residues, or food waste—into a stable, soil-enriching product. It’s a natural process driven by microbial activity, where carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials are mixed to create an ideal environment for beneficial bacteria and fungi to thrive.