Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Liz <liz@allslash.org>]

At 01:28 AM 6/8/2008, you wrote:
> People claim that initial tillage is sometimes necessary (I don't 
> have enough experience to argue this point), in which case my 
> question was more about initial soil prep than with continuing prep.
>
> But my question still stands: is the use of a broadfork considered tillage?

The ads I've seen for them say they aren't for initial soil prep, and 
that's been my experience with my little three-tine fork. It might be 
all right for digging up areas previously planted in grass, but it 
doesn't make a dent in what I've got (weeds growing in clay). Even a 
roto-tiller just bounces off the surface. No-till was not only the 
smartest thing for me to do, it was the only thing that worked.

Liz in SW VA
http://life-as-a-spectator-sport.com