Market Farming

[BBGREGSON AT cs.com]

Hi Andy-
Thanks for the nice words about our book.
We agree that it is desirable not to disturb the soil layers with tilling, if 
possible, and have always admired Ruth Stout's approach, which sounds like 
you are using.  The big concerns here in the Maritime NW are perpetual slug 
habitat in mulch, and the inability of the soil to properly warm in the 
spring if covered with (typically) light colored, reflective mulch.  
Presumably you are mulching with some kind of straw.  Our soil is pretty 
cold.  The idea of avoiding all tilling is very attractive and we'll give it 
a try on several beds this year....experience tells us that where we 
winter-mulch with chicken litter (on rhubarb and raspberries) the soil is 
wonderful underneath, but that is a rather dark material that has lost its 
reflective sheen.  Also, your chicken tractor technique has worked well for 
us as we rotate small flocks of chickens around the garden (which we learned 
from your book).

We concur about the digging fork.  As we get older and wiser we realize that 
Nature will do much of the work if we let her!  Thanks again for all your 
pioneering work.
Bob and Bonnie Gregson, Island Meadow Farm, Vashon, WA