Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

I picked up a flame weeder at Harbor Freight last month, around $30. 

Good hay comes only from good soil. Good soil grows less weeds than
depleted, compacted soil. I'm certain those neighbors have run tractors
over their land several times a year, which is why they have to plow or
disc it up, which is what degrades and oxidizes the organic matter, which
further causes it to crust and need more cultivation every time they plant.
It takes years to rebuild soil ruined that way, but cover crops, legumes,
and light grazing can do wonders. Herbicides do nothing for the soil.

I focus on learning vegetables but the soil principles are identical. 

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

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

On 2/3/2007 at 10:40 PM Laura McKenzie wrote:

>Paul,  I have to add two similar misconceptions.  This comes from my
>friends 
>who have livestock.
>
>1.  You must use herbicides to have good hay.... I think 2-4-D is what is 
>used  ... could that be the correct name?
>
>2.  You must use herbicides along your fences because you can't keep the 
>weeds down easily otherwise.
>
>Of course all the smaller gardeners who are not organic grab Roundup at 
>every possible opportunity. I've probably said this before; Roundup is a 
>religion here.
>
>  I don't know enough about growing hay to advise the one guy and I have
>no 
>trouble with keeping weeds off our fences (One surrounding 1/2 an acre and

>one surrounding 1/4th of an acre.  We just go along and pull but I do have

>the boys helping me and my friends have no one.
>
>  I talked to a young lady whose family has a farm just a few weeks ago
>and 
>found that their farm doesn't use herbicides.  "We can't afford it anymore

>but we need to use it as our hay quality isn't as good as it used to be,"
>is 
>what she said.
>
>  BTW, I have called everyone in this area for a flame weeder (even naming

>several brands) and all I get is "never heard of anything like that." I 
>can't afford one anymore but some day I hope to get one. It would make my 
>life here a little easier.
>
>
>><>``    ><>``     ><>``     ><>``      ><>``    ><>``    ><>``
>Laura's Homeschooling, Garden, and Genealogy Site
>is found here: http://home.att.net/~ekyorigins
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>
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