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livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] Sustainable market growing

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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Norma Sutton" <sweetspringfarm@gmail.com>
  • To: "Healthy soil and sustainable growing" <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Sustainable market growing
  • Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2006 09:55:07 -0400

Hi Paul,
I have a question for you.  What is the best way to find out which crops grow best in the area you are in?  I've been trying a few rows of something different each year to see how well they do in my area, but is there a better way then the way I'm doing it?
Norma
 

     Here's what we know, for starters.

1.  Building healthy soil can double or triple production for the same or
lower input costs and labor.
2.  You can achieve healthy, humus-rich, productive soil at much lower cost
with the right cover crops and/or composting free materials or what's
produced onsite.
3.  The resulting healthy soil needs much less irrigation, drains better,
and makes crops more resistant to weather and pest problems without
chemical inputs.
4.  Intelligently used, no-till techniques and mulch can slash equipment
costs, energy costs, and labor.
5.  Permanent layout of wide rows or raised beds concentrates inputs in the
growing areas instead of aisles you walk on. No monster tractors needed.
You don't waste money fertilizing or weeding ground you walk on. This
layout alone can double production or better.
6.  Best selection of crop seed and varieties for the climate and market
improves chances of having good crops and selling them. This is a hard
lesson for those who think they know what they want to grow. It may not be
what people want to eat in Peoria or Tuscon.
7.  Cutting the cost of inputs and labor with sustainable practices means a
wider profit margin, healthier plants, and tastier, healthier eating.
8.  Season extension techniques can grow more and longer, producing more
for the space available without increasing all other costs.
9.  With your available space more productive and lowered input costs, you
get that wider profit margin on more produce volume.
10. Of course selling direct to regular customers gets you the retail price
without wasting time at a farmers market (though it's a good place to
locate regular customers).


paul tradingpost@lobo.net
-------------------


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