Thank you to Tonya Albee for sharing the following information about preserving water quality through careful fertilizer selection. Please see the links below to find out more about Again & Again Farmstead’s offerings.
Shorefront residents of Lake Wentworth and Crescent Lake understand that living on clean water is both a privilege and a responsibility. What we apply to our lawns and gardens does not stay neatly within property lines. It moves with rainfall, irrigation, and snowmelt—into the lake that defines our landscape, our recreation, and our home values.
Many of us rely on professional lawn services and assume the products being used are appropriate for a lakeside setting. Yet conventional fertilizers—especially those containing phosphorus—can quietly undermine water quality. Even small nutrient inputs can stimulate algae growth, reduce oxygen levels for fish, and diminish the clarity that makes this lake so special. Protecting water quality begins with informed product choices.
One local option worth serious consideration is Again & Again Farmstead, based in Tamworth. This New Hampshire farm produces soil amendments specifically suited for lake and watershed settings, using regionally sourced materials. Their wool-based fertilizer, made from sheep fleece gathered from farms across New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, carries a guaranteed analysis of 11-0-5. It is slow-release and contains virtually no measurable phosphorus. That matters. Phosphorus is the primary driver of freshwater algae blooms; minimizing it helps protect dissolved oxygen levels and aquatic life while still providing the nitrogen and potassium plants require.
They also produce biochar, a finely crushed charcoal made from mixed New Hampshire hardwoods and softwoods. When incorporated into soil, biochar improves structure and function in three important ways: it enhances water retention, reduces nutrient leaching, and supports beneficial soil biology by increasing organic matter. Healthier soil means plants need fewer supplemental inputs over time—an important advantage for properties within a watershed.
Biochar has an additional benefit particularly relevant along shorelines and sloped terrain. When installed strategically on contour, it can act similarly to a filtration medium, helping bind and slow the movement of certain contaminants before they reach open water. During the eastern shoreline restoration at Chocorua Lake, biochar was incorporated into planting zones with visibly stronger shrub and tree establishment compared to untreated sections. Given that project’s proximity to Route 16, its ability to help reduce roadway runoff entering the lake was a practical and measurable advantage.
Used together, wool pellets and biochar complement one another. The pellets supply steady nutrients and moisture retention; the biochar helps hold both water and nutrients in place. During last summer’s drought conditions, this combination demonstrated resilience—supporting plant health while reducing the need for additional fertilizer or irrigation.
For those of us who treasure life on Lake Wentworth or Crescent Lake, the question is not whether to maintain attractive landscapes—it is how to do so without compromising the water that sustains them. When gardening or contracting landscaping services, it is reasonable to ask what products are being used and what lake-friendly alternatives are available via their service. Thoughtful soil management protects biodiversity, supports long-term plant health, and safeguards the clarity that underpins both our enjoyment and our property values.
Here’s some info on the products mentioned:
Wool Pellets: https://againfarmstead.com/wool-pellets/
Biochar: https://againfarmstead.com/biochar