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  • From: "Greg and April" <gregandapril@earthlink.net>
  • To: "Healthy soil and sustainable growing" <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] A No Till Question for Larger Fields
  • Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:18:01 -0600

Paul, I'll have to get back to you on that.

Last summer, I spent quite a bit of time building fairly large list of plant species ( 50+? including several that probably are not normally considered at first glance ) that might work for such a situation, unfortunately it's on my lap top, and my kids busted the display last spring. My intent was to get as wide a variety as possible, so one " mix " could be used in a variety of climates, even taking advantage of microclimes in a large field, or years where the fields might be wetter or warmer than normal. All the plants were selected for a useful product/purpose, with a eye towards long term sustainability - once planted / established they would last several years through reseeding, resprouting, or the like.

One of the reasons I liked the look of alfalfa, is the fact that it's roots go very deep, and tap resources that many plants can't normally touch. There are plenty of legumes that might be able to replace alfalfa, to one extent or another.


Greg H.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
To: <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 11:02
Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] A No Till Question for Larger Fields



VERY interesting, Greg. This business of interplanting cover crops and
trees can get a bit complicated (we posted some info and sources on cover
crops last month, for those who just joined). Exactly which of the crops
named there may vary with climate. It's doubtful I'd get good results with
alfalfa here for example, and I'm not willing to push my luck with our
well. Surprisingly, local extension agents may have some good info on cover
crops for different localities (I don't often recommend extension agents).
Rotations, cover crops and catch crops have been pushed by USDA etc. for
decades, but way too many farmers want to cut corners and leave fields bare
between cash crops. I see it all the time. We've been watching one field
near us that was left bare after the last corn or bean crop was harvested.
With the five-month drought here we go by that place and see that poor corn
only two feet high. They won't get enough sweet corn to pay for the seed.
Cover crops pay.

paul, tradingpost@riseup.net
---------------

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 7/19/2006 at 9:56 AM Greg and April wrote:

A thought might be to plant vetch very thickly. Crown Vetch, and more
so
Hairy Vetch has a reputation for being a sun lover and smothering weeds,
as
long as they get enough water. It can take a few years to get
established, but, once established, it grow fairly fast when conditions
are
right, and will spread by underground stolens - it's a slow spreader, that
is why you should plant thickly.

A companion plant for the vetch, would be red clover or perhaps alfalfa if
there is enough water. Between the Johnson grass, clover ( or alfalfa
),
and the vetch, you could end up with some very nice pasture.

Chicken tractor or pig tractor, will gain you meat, and they will scratch
and root up every last bit of Johnson grass if you work it right.

My preference ( depending on the water situation ) would probably be to
block of the field into smaller areas for a rotational system. Mow
short
in the fall then inter plant, vetch and a legume ( clover or alfalfa ) and
perhaps buckwheat, very early in the spring ( late winter if the
conditions
are right, before the grass has a chance to start to grow ), don't forget
to
inoculate everything.

After one full year of growth, interplant chicory, mandrels ( fodder
beets ), and other forbs, once they have started to grow, rotate cattle (
low numbers ), the next year hogs ( to pig tractor ), the next year put in

vegetables, that fall plant rye or other quick grower and the fallowing
spring chicken tractor. Then start over replant to grass, buckwheat,
vetch, ect... This would put it on a 6-7 year rotation.

Strips protected by fence so they will not ever be ever be touched other
than what grows through/pass the fence, and plant forage trees like honey
locust, mulberries, paw-paws, persimmon and willow on the strips inside
the
fence. Any fruit not picked will provide more food for the animals,
while
the leaves and stems of the willow that make it over will be eaten
directly,
and all the trees will provide wind and some sun shelter for the animals
once grown.

Greg H.


----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Boyne" <>
To: <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2006 11:20
Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] A No Till Question for Larger Fields


"How large are the fields and what is the climate?

I have an idea, but, it may or may not be in your budget."

Greg H.


Greg,

The fields would be in sizes of 5 to 20 acres and are located in NE
Oklahoma.

Thanks,
Terry




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