Cover crops are an important resource for many landscapers and farmers, who use the protective layers to build nutrients in the soil in place of synthetic or animal-based fertilizers. Cover crops enrich soil in many ways, including providing a healthier environment for the microbes that are so essential to growing nutritious plant varieties. As Susan Fisk of the Soil Science Society of America has observed: “Soil is a living, dynamic substance, and the microbial life within it is crucial to providing plant life with the food they need to grow. The microbes can be bacteria or fungi, but both need space — the pores — for a good living environment.” The Rodale Institute in eastern Pennsylvania has been studying this issue for more than three decades. In North America’s longest-running comparative study of organic and conventional techniques, Rodale analyzed the methods, philosophies and results of successful farming operations. Rodale’s key findings include: “Organic yields match conve