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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Mulch Layer

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  • From: "Wiediger, Alison" <alison.wiediger AT hart.kyschools.us>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Mulch Layer
  • Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:05:38 -0500

It's a Buckeye 1923 with covering boards rather than disks.  No frills, relatively inexpensive.  We have the irrigation add-on for one row of drip that is laid with the plastic.  Where we need 2 rows of drip ( when using the whole width of the bed, as with cut flowers, onions, etc), we lay 1 row by hand, then lay the second row with the mulch layer as it lays the plastic.  A little laborious, but much better than lost production due to insufficient water. We pick up the drip tape when we plant the next successive crop, or plant cover crop for winter.  It comes right up through what is left of the Bio-Telo with not much effort.
 
We have used for tomatoes, peppers, cut flowers, all our cucurbits, brassicas, and plan to use with onions this year.  Basically, anything that is transplanted rather than seeded.
 
Alison Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm


From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of bcluton AT aol.com
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 8:36 AM
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Mulch Layer

Thanks Allison,

Do you know what type of flat bed layer it is?  

also what types of crops have you been putting on "plastic" in your system.  And do you put drip irrigation under the biotello and pick it up at years end or do you not use drip?

Thanks for your time.

Have a great growing season.

Brian Luton
www.stonesthrowfarm.biz


-----Original Message-----
From: Wiediger, Alison <alison.wiediger AT hart.kyschools.us>
To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 9:49 am
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Mulch Layer

Brian,
 
If you want a flat bed layer, it will cost less and take less horsepower than a bed shaper/mulch layer.  If your soil is stony, you will need to be very careful with the tension settings.  The bio plastic is more fragile, and even dirt clods will make holes in it if the plastic is laid 0Atoo tight.  That said, we like the bio plastic VERY much. We have a flat bed layer and are using an Oliver 1265 - about 42 horses I think - to lay plastic and it works beautifully as long as soil conditions are right and the wind isn't blowing hard. We do use it on contoured beds, and it works okay IF the curve is very shallow.
 
Alison Wiediger, Au Naturel Farm


From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of bcluton AT aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 3:24 PM
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [Market-farming] Mulch Layer

Hello all,

I'm "kinda sorta" considering a mulch layer.  I've heard good things regarding the new Biotello degradable mulches and would be interested in trying it out for a few crops in our system.

There are all types of these things out ther e and I'd really appreciate folks thoughts and experiences.

Our situation...

We run a MF 135 tractor its about 35 - 40 hp and fairly light.  We don't own a pre-bedder.  Portions of our farm where we'd like to lay mulch are on stoney (assorted cobble-size) and undulating / side hill terrain.  We don't plan to lay miles of "plastic" so something affordable is a must.

Many thanks,

Brian
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