Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["E. E. Mitchamore Jr" <emitch@att.net>]

This very good article reminded me of one item I learned in a seminar (on native landscaping) last weekend.  When mulching, be sure to leave some bare patches of soil.  Bees and butterflies, both pollinators, require bare soil for some of their nesting, mating, and feeding habits.  All part of the dance of nature.

 

E. E. "Mitch" Mitchamore
www.hillcountrynatives.biz

----- Original Message -----

From: Tradingpost

To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org

Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 8:00 PM

Subject: [Livingontheland] the Dervaes family - No-till,Permanent Bed Farming

the Dervaes family - No-till, Permanent Bed Farming

The yard has over 350 varieties of edible and useful plants. The
homestead's productive 1/10 acre organic garden now grows over 6,000 pounds
(3 tons) of produce annually.

You can add amendments to the surface
under a mulch or add them to the hole in which you are planting. The soil
creatures will mix the amendments into your soil. In the fall, you can use
a cover crop, cover the soil with leaves, or plant a winter crop like
turnips or kale. Just don't leave your soil bare.