Below are various case studies that show how individual farms approached ecological weed management techniques.
Case Studies
Organic Vegetable Farms in New England: Three Case Studies
From the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, a detailed overview of the operations of three highly diversified organic vegetable farms. Weed management strategies and weed control successes and challenges are clearly presented. Additional information about soil fertility management and economics of several crops is also included.
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/CAES/DOCUMENTS/Publications/Bulletins/b1021pdf.pdf?la=en
Excellence in Organic Weed Management: Insights From the Field
Created by Western Illinois University's Organic Research Program, this booklets documents examples of successful organic weed management. Presents interviews from 9 different Midwest farmers compiled by Dr. Joel Gruver and Andy Clayton.
View here as a pdf.
From the University of Vermont, here are three case studies of organic weed management strategies on vegetable farms in New England.
Organic Weed Management at Fort Hill Farm
https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Pubs/weedcasestudyFortHillFarm.pdf
Organic Weed Management at Hurricane Flats – a Case Study
http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Pubs/weedcasestudyHurricane%20Flats.pdf
Organic Weed Management at River Berry Farm – a Case Study
https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Pubs/weedcasestudyRiverBerryFarm.pdf
From Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Using specific reduced tillage tactics, these two organic vegetable farms in Maine reduced weed and weed seed populations and improved their soil health. Both articles Include practical detailed information provided by farmers.
Zone Tillage – A Reduced Tillage Option for Northern Farms
http://www.mofga.org/Portals/2/Fact%20Sheets/FS%2020%20Zone%20Tillage%20Web.pdf
Ridge Tillage at Hackmatack Farm
http://www.mofga.org/Portals/2/Fact%20Sheets/FS%2021%20Ridge%20Tillage%20WEB.pdf
To each their own: case studies of four successful, small-scale organic vegetable farmers with distinct weed management strategies
Cambridge University articles examining four different weed management strategies pursued by vegetable growers in northern New England.
The Nordell Summer Fallow System
Anne & Eric Nordell of Trout Run, Pennsylvania, nearly eliminated weeding needs by using a rotation of vegetable crops, followed by a year of summer fallow with spring and fall cover crops. The intensive summer tillage prevented annuals from seeding and also helped wear down perennial weeds. The negative effects of intense tillage were offset by incorporating the spring and fall cover crops. This method resulted in a bare minimum of weeding needs which improved over the years. Learn more by reading their detailed article “Weed the Soil, Not the Crop” hosted at the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference Proceedings from 2007.