Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Laurie Ann Powell <laurie@powellclan.com>]

I thought I'd give a quick update on A Farm Called Providence (or "News
from an almost-but-not-quite-hopeless Suburban Soccer Mom attempting
agriculture"). In the midst of the global disasters and domestic
politics, maybe a little good news will go a long way? Yes! Food will
grow! I am a witness!

I've been "building up" for almost three years, now. The battle of the
Bermuda Grass goes on, but since the Ice Storm of 2007 created a surfeit
of mulch, I've settled on finding anything that appears to be food and
surrounding it with wood chips.It doesn't remove, but does slow down,
the growth of the grass, and seems to allow the seedling half a chance.

While I don't have an abundance of any one vegetable, I've been getting
really creative with salad and stir fry. A handful of early Alaska peas
or one good sized mustard leaf give a little variety to the daily fare
of Bunny Luv carrots and Earthbound broccoli. The majority of asparagus
seems to be boycotting this year, so even that is  serving more as
garnish than as a harvest. Perhaps something in the weather? Green leaf
lettuce in 50 gallon buckets has done  well, but I have to be careful
not to serve salad at every meal, lest there be a peasant revolt :)

I've begun broadening the experimentation a bit. I planted squash and
corn on the south-facing hill created by the horse pond diggings, where
the soil is quite a bit lighter, and both seem to be coming up well.
I've discovered that doing Jeavons-style seed flat planting is essential
for the garden area - almost nothing comes up straight out of the
ground, whether because I haven't remediated enough or because of the
weather I'm not sure. It works out pretty well, though, as I've a front
porch where the little things thrive, and I was able to get some things
started really early that way. It also gives my littlest boy a do-able
job to do every day.

We're a long way from self-sufficiency, but I'm delighted to have a bit
from the garden to add wholesome nutrition to our diet every day this
early in the summer.

Laurie Ann
Foyil, USA