Save the Rice!

Another way we recycle on the farm is by using rice hulls. Rice hulls are the hard protective coverings of grains of rice. The hull is pretty much inedible and in the past, California rice growers would burn them, which isn't the best for the environment.

Today, we use the rice hulls to help break up the red clay in our soil. The red clay on our land has lots of valuable nutrients that can help our veggies grow stronger and more flavorful. In order to get these nutrients out of the clay and into the vegetables, the clay needs to be broken up, and it needs a lot of water. When we mix the rice hulls in the with soil, it allows the clay to have more access to air and water.

We tried using rice hulls on lettuce this year, and found that 20 to 30 percent more of our seeds sprouted. Hooray!

In the past we used perlite, a volcanic rock to break up the clay. This worked, but the perlite never was fully absorbed into the soil and would eventually wash away. The rice hulls will rot and become a part of the soil, creating more of a lasting effect.