Market Farming

[SCook21809 AT aol.com]

    Bob & Bonnie brought up a very good point that is often over looked by 
growers with an organic or sustainable bent.  I became aware that my soils 
were "constipated soils" when my organic (OM) tests kept coming back higher 
and higher.  The critters in the compost had a pretty tough life in my clay 
soil.  The soil was tight, airless, hydrophobic and the prevalent microbes 
were anaerobes.  Four years of adding 10 tons of compost per acre and my OM 
was at or above 10%.  I was advised to stop with the compost for the same 
concerns of inviting soil pests.  
    I started experimenting by making compost tea and sprayed it on my soils. 
 Three things happened: my OM fell to a much more reasonable 5 to 6%; the 
clay opened up to allow more air and water in; and Buttercup, which had long 
been an invasive weed, receded from the growing areas to the machine aisles.
    I only use about 3 tons of compost per acre now.  Mostly as a mulch that 
is turned in when I plant cover crops.  I have very biologically robust soil 
now and experienced no fungal disease for two and a half seasons.  Which 
makes me think that the diversity and mass of microbes (and their 
metabolites) found in the compost applied are responsible for many of the 
beneficial effects of compost.

Art Biggert
Ocean Sky Farm
Bainbridge Island, WA