Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>]

Mitch, I saw that article on the Dervaes some time ago but was skeptical
about anyone producing so much on so little land. Now they reveal how,
growing in beds year round. We can't do year round in this climate, but
with permanent mulched beds we come close in productivity. So it's quite
believable. 

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

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

On 2/26/2008 at 5:54 AM E. E. Mitchamore Jr wrote:

>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.
>
>