Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Harvey Ussery <boxwood@nelsoncable.com>]

>  They say the root system of grasses is the
> best soil and humus builder.  ~paul

Especially in connection with grazing animals, by the way.

One thing I learned from Joel Salatin's latest book (EVERYTHING I WANT 
TO DO IS ILLEGAL--great fun, guaranteed to get your blood boiling): In 
order to re-establish balance between top growth and root mass after 
being grazed, perennial grasses and legumes that have co-evolved with 
grazing animals shed root hairs (and in the case of legumes like clovers 
and alfalfa, nitrate nodules on their roots). The sloughed-off root 
hairs (and nitrate nodules) add to soil fertility and humus accumulation 
through successive cycles of growth and grazing.

~Harvey

--
Harvey in northern Va
www.themodernhomestead.us

"How we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used."  
~Wendell Berry