Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Dan Conine <dconine@dotnet.com>]

Hi Paul,  
  Do you get Countryside magazine? (http://www.countrysidemag.com)
I have read articles about people using mulch methods in there a lot. My 
first thought is to suggest you try the newspaper methods first to knock 
down the grasses, especially with the transplanted type crops. If you 
can get started the fall before, then lay newspapers down where you want 
your garden to be next spring. Real thick layer to kill everything. 
Then, in the spring, peel them up where you want to plant, put some 
compost down, potatoes, then straw (or grass) mulch over the top. Let 
the potato sprouts find the soil on their own.
Coffee grounds, chicken litter (will you be able to have a couple of 
chickens? or even some chicken feed to encourage earthworms to feed on 
moist soil (light layer of newspapers for shade), this should till 
things quite nicely for the next year's seeded crops.

Just what popped into my mind from what you seem to be trying to do.

Dan Conine
Belgium,WI