Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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

Me too Harvey, I pretty much just make notes of what didn't work as planned 
as I go along. Tomatillos started too late, too many for what sold tho it was 
just one bed. I'm in a dilemma on trying new things. Mints and herbs did 
great but little interest at market. Italian oregano and French tarragon are 
still keepers tho, hard to find and adds a gourmet touch in upscale markets 
that pay better. Sunchokes mature too late for market in fall, but I see they 
bring $5lb in Sunflower stores. I rotate but not enough room to do cove 
crops, just mulch for winter and reamend fall or spring. Greensand, aged 
manure, and alfalfa meal do wonders for the dead, dry soil around here but 
I'd still cover crop if I could.

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

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

On 11/21/2010 at 11:37 AM Harvey Ussery wrote:

>On 11/21/2010 08:12 AM, Emery Mitchamore wrote:
>> Although I don't grow for market, I see this planning for crop
>production as a serious need and opportunity.  There are so many variables
>to consider and record that it immediately sounds like a good candidate
>for a computer program.  I know that some exist, such as Plangarden, but I
>don't hear much about how people do their planning, whether on a computer
>or on paper.  And, without a "written" plan, how can you keep records of
>what worked (or didn't work), and why?
>>
>> May I suggest a conversation on the subject of planning (and record
>keeping)?   Considerations should include space, time, production,
>revenue, etc
>>
>> E. E. "Mitch" Mitchamore
>>
>
>I'm not very disciplined in record keeping. For "what worked (or didn't
>work)" things, I make notes in a section of my calendar spreadsheet,
>which I review when setting up the calendar for the new year, then
>include things I must not forget in the individual month sheets.
>Otherwise, much of the accumulating "what works" information I simply
>retain in my head.
>
>It helps me to zero in on varieties I prefer. I'm always willing to try
>something new, but if I have no compelling reason to do so, going with
>the tried and true allows me to fly more on automatic pilot.
>
>This year I put together some layout sheets in my word processor (Open
>Office Writer), using its draw functions. The idea is that I have
>templates of the basic garden layout, then open new copies from the
>templates for each part of the growing season and enter what got planted
>where, and minimal notes such as spacing and planting date. So in the
>future I should have some record with those saved files. My trouble with
>this--and all record keeping--is that it's so hard to keep up with it
>when I'm in a big ass-on-fire hurry.
>
>One big change I've made that will make crop rotation a lot easier:
>Starting with the past growing season, I'm dedicating exactly half of
>the bed space in my main garden to cover crops for the entire
>*year*--and the other half to harvest crops. The two bed types alternate
>in the layout. In even years, even numbered beds are harvest crop beds
>and odd numbered ones are in cover crops. Then in odd years, the
>reverse. So, even if I don't track rotation any at all, I'll be
>observing minimal two-year rotations for all crops.
>
>~Harvey
>
>
>--
>Harvey in northern Va
>www.themodernhomestead.us
>
>My book, THE MODERN HOMESTEAD POULTRY FLOCK, will be published next year
>by Chelsea Green Publishing.
>
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