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  • From: Richard Moyer <ramoyer AT gmail.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Growing for compost
  • Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:17:47 -0400

Etienne, see answer below:
> 3. Re: Growing for compost (Etienne Goyer)
>
> On 10-06-24 05:28 AM, Richard Moyer wrote:
>> Wyatt,
>> We used to cut an orchard grass/clover/fescue acre 1-2 times per year
>> for our primary source of organic matter for vegetable beds. So I
>> have sympathy/interest in your idea or growing your own compost
>> biomass. Elliot Coleman expands on the idea in "The New Organic
>> Grower". Rotationally grazing goats through the field helped control
>> weedy species and favor more clover.
>
> I have the read the idea in Coleman's book, I like it but I am worrid
> about spreading weed seed from the compost forage plot to the annual
> veggie plot where the compost is to be applied. How was it for you? Is
> your forage plot very clean of weeds, or you are just very careful when
> and how you mow?
>
I need to learn how to do this on a larger scale, so others please
weigh in. As for what I've done in the past: Dense, healthy,
perennial pasture that is grazed or mown multiple times per year has
very few annual weeds that set seed, in my neck of the woods. Those
that do stick out like a sore thumb (thistles) and can be controlled
by hand without much expenditure of time or energy, but as Wendell
Berry writes, you learn the price one pays by rejecting local wisdom,
such as timely weed management. Learning, through observation, the
life cycle of plants you don't want to go to seed helps.
So we mowed in late spring before fescue set seed, then sheet
composted this. Then often again before chicory set seed. We were
able to eliminate chicory that way. Later, we rotationally grazed
with goats to control forbs such as plantain and sorrel (dock).
Sitting on the porch watching the goats selectively weed is my idea of
weed control!
Grazers have noted in multiple venues the value of multiyear rotation
of entire fields between annual and perennial crops, to control both
annual and perennial weeds. For instance, gallansoga is nonexistent
in my pastures, same for lambsquarters, purslane and redroot pigweed.
And there is little to no thistle, Johnson Grass or ironweed pressure
in my annual crop areas. So if you pay attention to when you (or your
neighbor) mows, and what is being included in the bales, you can avoid
some of the weeds. But other weed seed has been placed in a
nonfavorable environment. Fescue seed is one that can sprout in
established pasture and in open soil; second cuttings of hay have very
little of that. It requires planning and management, but so do other
sustainable systems.

Any others using hay or other perennial pasture clippings for compost
please weigh in. What about corn for compost, instead of silage?
Richard Moyer
SW VA




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