Rodale Institute

09/04/2026

Farmers plan around patterns developed through experience: when the soil is usually workable, when pests tend to appear, when a crop should flower, and when harvest typically begins.

Those patterns are valuable, but they are not permanent.

A warmer spring may encourage earlier growth while leaving crops exposed to a later cold event. Heavy rain can close a planting window. Heat during pollination may affect a crop differently than the same heat arriving several weeks later.

This is why climate risk cannot be understood only through annual averages. Timing matters.

Research, regional observations, and farm records can help farmers recognize how familiar seasonal patterns are shifting. The goal is not to predict every condition perfectly. It is to identify where a farm plan may need greater flexibility before the season begins.

09/03/2026

What does soil health have to do with human health?

More than most people realize.
Join Rodale Institute, Regenerative Organic Alliance, and Gaia Herbs on September 9 for a live conversation exploring the connection between healthy soils, nutritious food, and the products we rely on every day.

Together, we'll discuss:

🌱 The science behind soil health and food quality

🌱 How regenerative organic standards and certification build trust and transparency

🌱 How regenerative practices are reflected in real-world products and supply chains

Featuring experts from Rodale Institute, Regenerative Organic Alliance, and Gaia Herbs®, this webinar will connect the latest research with the real-world impact of regenerative organic agriculture.

📅 September 9
2:00–3:00 p.m. EDT

Reserve your spot today:

What does soil health have to do with human health? More than most people realize. Every product has a story—and the most important part begins beneath

09/02/2026

🌱 California Organic Center Field Day | October 1 | Camarillo, CA

What if agriculture could move from sink to source?

Join us for a day of field-based learning focused on building agricultural systems that generate more of what communities need: clean water, healthy soils, resilient production, biodiversity, and economic durability.
We’ll take a critical look at plastic mulch and explore research on high-residue cover crops and reduced tillage as biologically driven alternatives—not simply eliminating a material, but rethinking how the entire system functions.

📍 Camarillo, CA
📅 October 1
⏰ 8:30 AM–2:30 PM PDT

The day includes field sessions, lunch, a panel discussion, and an introduction to the Holdfast collective’s work.

To register, please visit:

Moving Agriculture From Sink to Source In plant physiology, young leaves function as sinks. They require energy and nutrients to grow. As they mature,

09/02/2026

At Rodale Institute, organic is a movement we’ve been growing for nearly 80 years.

In the 1940s, J.I. Rodale began experimenting with organic farming methods based on a belief that was simple, but transformative: the health of our soil is directly connected to the health of our food and, ultimately, the health of people.

Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People.

In 1947, that belief became the foundation of what would become Rodale Institute and decades of research dedicated to understanding what happens when we farm in partnership with natural systems rather than relying on synthetic inputs.

Today, the organic movement J.I. helped champion has grown far beyond those first acres in Pennsylvania. And through research, farmer training, consulting, and education, we continue working toward the same vision: healthy, living soils and a more resilient food system.

This National Organic Month, we’re celebrating how far organic has come and continuing the work of growing what comes next. 🌱

09/01/2026

“The soil is the great connector of our lives.” – Wendell Berry

Today we remember Wendell Berry - a farmer, writer, poet – with deep gratitude for a life devoted to the land, farmers, and future generations.

From 1977 to 1980, Berry worked closely with our founder Bob Rodale, writing and editing for Rodale Press publications including Organic Gardening and Farming and The New Farm. He served as a trusted advisor and mentor to Bob.

Berry and the Rodale family shared a belief that remains at the heart of our work today: care for the soil, respect for farmers, strong communities, and a deeper understanding of our relationship with the land is a responsibility we all carry forward.

We are grateful that Wendell Berry’s legacy is woven into Rodale Institute's history, and for the generations of farmers, writers, and advocates his work will continue to inspire.

In remembrance of Wendell Berry, 1934–2026.

Photograph by Guy Mendes
The Berry Center

09/01/2026

Over the weekend, Rodale Institute CEO and The Farm Is Here author Jeff Tkach joined journalist, community organizer, and Amber Waves member Biddle Duke for a meaningful conversation at Amber Waves Farm & Market. 🌱

Together, they explored themes from The Farm Is Here, the many ways the farm shows up in our lives, our connection to the natural world, and the role that farming, food, and soil can play in the health of our communities and ourselves.

Thank you to Amber Waves co-founders and farmers Katie Baldwin and Amanda Merrow for welcoming us, to Biddle for guiding the conversation, and to everyone who joined us for a thoughtful morning of connection and conversation.

08/31/2026

Looking to learn, connect, and explore the future of organic and regenerative agriculture? 🌱

Our upcoming events include educational webinars, on-farm field days, consulting gatherings, and opportunities to engage with the farmers, researchers, and leaders shaping the future of food.

From practical growing knowledge to meaningful conversations about the connection between soil health and human health, each event offers a chance to deepen your understanding and be part of the regenerative organic movement.

🌎🌿 Explore all upcoming events and register here: https://rodaleinstitute.org/events/

08/28/2026

A farm is a business, but it rarely functions as an isolated one.

It purchases supplies, hires labor, maintains equipment, transports products, works with buyers, and relies on people with specialized agricultural knowledge. In some regions, farms also help sustain processors, auctions, markets, restaurants, and institutions seeking locally or regionally produced food.

When farms close, the immediate loss belongs to the farm family and its employees. Over time, however, the effects may spread.

Supporting farm viability is therefore not only about preserving individual operations. It is also about retaining the economic capacity that allows agriculture to remain possible in a place.

08/27/2026

What does it take to build stronger regional markets for organic dry beans?

Join us on September 18 for a free Field Walk & Buyer Tour at Tuxedo Farms in Olathe, Colorado, where you'll see firsthand how research, infrastructure, and market development are coming together to create new opportunities for organic growers.

Participants will:

🌱 Tour tilled and organic no-till dry bean research trials

🚜 Learn about roller crimper research and organic no-till systems on Colorado's Western Slope

🏗️ Get an inside look at the development of a new certified organic dry bean cleaning and processing facility

🤝 Connect with farmers, buyers, food businesses, and project partners working to strengthen regional organic markets

Whether you're a prospective, transitioning, or certified organic grower, or you're interested in expanding regional supply chains, this event offers practical insights and valuable networking opportunities.

📅 Friday, September 18, 2026

🕘 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. MDT

📍 Olathe, Colorado

🎟️ Free to attend (Lunch provided)

Register today: https://rodaleinstitute.org/events/organic-dry-beans-roller-crimper-research-market-opportunities-field-walk-buyer-tour/

This event is supported through collaborative research and market development initiatives, including Western SARE and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Organic Market Development Grant, to help strengthen regional organic agriculture.

In 2022, Tuxedo Farms, in collaboration with Soil Health Services and Rodale Institute, received funding from Western SARE to research the adaptation of

08/26/2026

Tomorrow's food doesn't grow itself.
It depends on the people willing and able to farm.

But becoming a farmer has never been easy. Rising costs, access to land, changing weather, and a steep learning curve can make it difficult for the next generation to get started and succeed.

That's why Rodale Institute invests in more than research. We train beginning and experienced farmers through hands-on education, provide one-on-one consulting to help producers transition to organic, conduct long-term research that farmers can put into practice, and build regional research centers that address the unique challenges of agriculture across the country.

Growing tomorrow's food starts with supporting the people who will grow it.

💬 What do you think will be most important for the next generation of farmers?