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| Farm Bed Layout |
Monday, December 12, 2011
Farm Layout
We realize that something important has been missing from this blog, something that we fail to capture with our out-of-focus pictures... an overview/layout of the farm. Therefore, we have created a schematic that we hope can somewhat orient you with our space. Also, notice the glaring fact: we have prepared only a small part of our available space... reminding us that we have a lot of work to do before Spring. Sorry for the small text, but rest assured that those details are insignificant. The point is to see the 'big picture'.
Cover Cropping
But first, a quick update:
We did rake the clumps out of the block (from the previous post), and we piled them in a windrow on the perimeter of the block for 2 reasons: to keep any weeds from being introduced into a different area, and allow the soil that remains on the clumps to be washed back into the area from whence it came.
Now, the entry.
Only 2 of the 3 blocks could be completely prepared in time to broadcast the cover crop seeds on 08 Nov (two days before the full moon). Ironically, the one remaining block is the first one that we started on. Nevertheless, we have begun the informal experiment about the influence of the moon on the resulting crop. We will sow the cover crop now in the 2 blocks that are prepared, and we will sow the remaining block a few days after the full moon.
The first step in the process was to spread the fertilizers.
In this case, we used both dolomite and Cal-Phos. The dolomite is an acid neutralizer. We knew that the soil was acidic because of the presence of sheep sorrel. It thrives in acidic soils, and it is doing pretty darn well in our beds at the moment. Therefore, the dolomite will change the pH of the soil to a more neutral level. It is a fine dust that can cause serious lung damage over long periods of inhalation, so a mask is a must. The Cal-Phos provides Phosphorus, which is important for overall plant health (think ATP and DNA).
We are ambivalent about using the fertilizers. We feel that a healthy farm should not need such inputs, but we realize that we are starting from scratch, so we need some additional help to get the system going.
After spreading the fertilizer, it gets raked evenly and chopped into the soil. Then, the beds are smoothed, and the ‘micro’-furrows are prepared. The furrows serve to minimize seed erosion and predation as well as to maximize germination by keeping the seeds from washing/blowing off the beds.
Finally, it’s the moment we’ve all (read: C + C) been waiting for: the sowing of the cover crops! It’s the first milestone of our working farm, a big goal reached in our preparations for next season’s crops. Cover crops are important for many reasons, including erosion control and soil tilth, nitrogen fixation and nutrient retention, beneficial insect habitat, compost material, etc.
We’ve chosen bell beans, Lana vetch, and barley.
Bell beans are similar to fava beans, only much smaller (about 1/2 the size). They are legumes that help fix a substantial amount of Nitrogen in the soil, and they serve as a scaffolding for the vetch to climb on.
The Lana vetch is a 'vine-y' legume used to fix Nitrogen. As a mid-story plant, it helps keep weeds down and minimize erosion.
Barley is a cereal grain that helps improve the structure and health of the soil because of its root systems. The roots help keep the soil from compacting and ensure that nutrients do not get leeched.
We inoculate the bell beans and vetch with specific bacteria, which have formed symbiotic relationships with legumes. These bacteria form nodules on the roots of the legumes. These guys are responsible for the fixation of Nitrogen. Some people debate whether it is necessary to inoculate or not, but Yeti insists that doing so is a beneficial practice that equates to buying an extended warranty.
After inoculation, we add the barley, mix it in with the legumes, and broadcast. Then, we gently rake the beds smooth to cover the seeds in the furrows.
Finally, we cover the beds with some rice straw to further protect against erosion and predation. (Note: We used way too much straw. Oops. Won't do that again!).
These beds are now completely prepared. We have the remaining block to sow, and there’s still much to do around the garden, but the first major goal has been reached!
We did rake the clumps out of the block (from the previous post), and we piled them in a windrow on the perimeter of the block for 2 reasons: to keep any weeds from being introduced into a different area, and allow the soil that remains on the clumps to be washed back into the area from whence it came.
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| Raked Beds. "Keyhole" Shape |
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| Windrow of grass 'scrapings' |
Now, the entry.
Only 2 of the 3 blocks could be completely prepared in time to broadcast the cover crop seeds on 08 Nov (two days before the full moon). Ironically, the one remaining block is the first one that we started on. Nevertheless, we have begun the informal experiment about the influence of the moon on the resulting crop. We will sow the cover crop now in the 2 blocks that are prepared, and we will sow the remaining block a few days after the full moon.
The first step in the process was to spread the fertilizers.
In this case, we used both dolomite and Cal-Phos. The dolomite is an acid neutralizer. We knew that the soil was acidic because of the presence of sheep sorrel. It thrives in acidic soils, and it is doing pretty darn well in our beds at the moment. Therefore, the dolomite will change the pH of the soil to a more neutral level. It is a fine dust that can cause serious lung damage over long periods of inhalation, so a mask is a must. The Cal-Phos provides Phosphorus, which is important for overall plant health (think ATP and DNA).
We are ambivalent about using the fertilizers. We feel that a healthy farm should not need such inputs, but we realize that we are starting from scratch, so we need some additional help to get the system going.
After spreading the fertilizer, it gets raked evenly and chopped into the soil. Then, the beds are smoothed, and the ‘micro’-furrows are prepared. The furrows serve to minimize seed erosion and predation as well as to maximize germination by keeping the seeds from washing/blowing off the beds.
 |
| Tines and Furrows |
Finally, it’s the moment we’ve all (read: C + C) been waiting for: the sowing of the cover crops! It’s the first milestone of our working farm, a big goal reached in our preparations for next season’s crops. Cover crops are important for many reasons, including erosion control and soil tilth, nitrogen fixation and nutrient retention, beneficial insect habitat, compost material, etc.
We’ve chosen bell beans, Lana vetch, and barley.
 |
| Bell Beans |
Bell beans are similar to fava beans, only much smaller (about 1/2 the size). They are legumes that help fix a substantial amount of Nitrogen in the soil, and they serve as a scaffolding for the vetch to climb on.
The Lana vetch is a 'vine-y' legume used to fix Nitrogen. As a mid-story plant, it helps keep weeds down and minimize erosion.
 |
| Lana vetch |
 |
| Barley |
We inoculate the bell beans and vetch with specific bacteria, which have formed symbiotic relationships with legumes. These bacteria form nodules on the roots of the legumes. These guys are responsible for the fixation of Nitrogen. Some people debate whether it is necessary to inoculate or not, but Yeti insists that doing so is a beneficial practice that equates to buying an extended warranty.
After inoculation, we add the barley, mix it in with the legumes, and broadcast. Then, we gently rake the beds smooth to cover the seeds in the furrows.
 |
| Seed Mix |
These beds are now completely prepared. We have the remaining block to sow, and there’s still much to do around the garden, but the first major goal has been reached!
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