The new area in our backyard now has a nice cover crop mix of peas and oats. In late June we planted buckwheat, which matured through the season and was cut and tilled in during the month of August. After that Spink drilled in the mix of oats and peas, which will fix nitrogen, build […]
This year we are planting winter rye as our cover crop. Why rye, you ask? Well, let’s back up and talk about the importance of cover crops, in general. Planting a cover crop is a great way to add organic matter to soil. It also helps break up clay soils to help with drainage and […]
2 1/2 weeks after planting, the alfalfa is growing. so excited that it has survived. though our soil samples indicated the soil was okay, the looks of it and the smell and all the rocks had us doubting whether anything could thrive here…apparently, our fears were unfounded. the alfalfa will add nitrogen to the soil, […]
Tonight we planted alfalfa. This is a cover crop that has the following benefits: nitrogen fixer puts down a long tap root and helps break up the soil can be mowed and put in the compost for on-farm organic matter protects soil through the winter; diminishes weed production We used a Jang Seeder purchased at […]