Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] Organic farming is so much harder than just getting stoned and picking tomatoes

livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "John D'hondt" <dhondt@eircom.net>
  • To: "Healthy soil and sustainable growing" <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Organic farming is so much harder than just getting stoned and picking tomatoes
  • Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 20:43:31 +0100

We have most species of domesticated animals here and they all have to earn their keep. For instance, most of our weeds end up with the pigs instead of on a compost pile. One of our worst weeds are docks. Put these in the compost and they will sprout again. After the pigs have done their worst they don't. Our goats are fantastic nettle and thistle removers.Sheep are brilliant at removing ragworth which is toxic for most animals but seemingly not for sheep. A horse can be used to ridge and harvest potatoes. And they have more pull than anything but the most modern huge tractors. Then again, some of our land is so steep that working with a horse is a lot safer than using a tractor. Irish farmers love huge machines because it gives them status. Quite a few get killed each year by their machines or kill their offspring when they happen to be somewhere in the way. A smart horse is never going to hurt a child if it can see what it is doing.
John

That's good; I always like to plan harder instead of work harder. We're not able to use animals because we have so much on our plate already. We can't keep up with poultry but wish we could.

On 6/24/2014 4:33 PM, John D'hondt wrote:
When you are un-stoned it is not so difficult to reduce labour by involving animals.
For instance: it takes two days to build and erect a small poly tunnel from rebar steel covered with plastic pipe. Size 6 meters by 4. Cost about 200 euros.
Put 60 guinea pigs in there that will graze down all the standing vegetation in less than a week. Meaning time enough to build and erect two more tunnels.
Move guinea pigs to second tunnel. Dump a good load of worm compost in tunnel one and let poultry scratch and mix compost with soil until it looks well dug over. Move guinea pigs to tunnel 3 and poultry to tunnel two after putting compost in there. Level soil in tunnel one and plant.

Another technique we may have to use soon is to cover unbroken ground with half a foot of farmyard manure. Cover this with tarpaulins for a few months. Lift the tarpaulin carefully and remove ten thousand slugs from the under side. Plant.

Half of the time you are waiting for an action to come to fruition. There is time to think. It is not that hard for you don't have to remove the last weed or insect pest. Nature does all the growing.
John

Organic farming is so much harder than just getting stoned and picking tomatoes http://grist.org/food/organic-farming-is-so-much-harder-than-just-getting-stoned-and-picking-tomatoes/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Daily%2520June%252024&utm_campaign=daily

Don't know about everybody else, but my mkt growing tasks demand complete alertness & concentration on the job at hand. ALL the time.

_______________________________________________
Livingontheland mailing list
Livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/livingontheland



---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus
protection is active.
http://www.avast.com





Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page