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  • From: Aaron Brower <aaronbrower AT yahoo.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tilling
  • Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:51:59 -0700 (PDT)

We grow vegetables on two different fields. There is a sandy 12 acre plot and
a
heavier 3 acre plot across the road which is new for us this year.

I aim to turn the soil as little as I reasonably can but it happens a couple
times a year. The sandy plot is very productive and I find the sand to be
very
forgiving. I disc in the green manure in the spring/early summer a few weeks
before we plant it. I also disc in beds as a crop finishes in order kill
weeds
and prepare for a second round of crops.

The smaller plot with the heavier soil is only used for late crops this year
(brassica). I disced it in June and will probably again if I feel I can get a
cover crop on it before winter and after harvest but I aim to avoid any deep
tillage.

We very rarely plow except to open new garden space. I avoid all rototiller
action.

Bed formation includes discing, then rolling the bed to even it out and firm
it,
then marking the beds for either transplanting or direct seeding. If our soil
was heavier I would be much more worried about our disruption to the soil
structure.

Also, we've fenced off about a quarter of the garden (4 acres) that was
winter
squash and corn until last week and put about 20 pigs in it to clean up any
left
over squash and corn and also to root through the earth and leave their
manure
behind. They do a thorough job of turning over the soil. One could call it
tilling, I suppose. In a similar vein, I plan on putting broilers on a rested
section of the garden next year to scratch it, leave behind their miracle
droppings and hopefully cleaning up some weed seeds.

We are seriously considering finding a bed forming attachment for the
tractor.
Our present system often leaves the beds too uneven for my liking, especially
in
preparation for a second planting when the first planting leaves behind thick
weeds. They are not always easy to thoroughly work into the soil with the
discs.

Well, this is a brief telling of some of our 'tilling' techniques. I am
certain
they can be improved but they have worked for us so far. As stated earlier,
our
soil is quite sandy and very forgiving. Its production is increasing with
frequent incorporation of organic matter (weeds, green manure) though it does
not seem to be losing any of its sandy structure.

Aaron
Rollinsford, NH, zone 5


----- Original Message ----
From: Richard Robinson <rrobinson AT nasw.org>
To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Mon, September 13, 2010 3:53:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Tilling

On Wed, 8 Sep 2010 21:13:19 -0700 (PDT), Sundari Elizabeth Kraft wrote:

> I am curious to learn from all of you whether or not you till your land, and
> why (or why not). If you could, please also let me know how much land you
> are
> farming so I can have some context for your answer.



I till with a BCS rototiller to break new ground and control weeds in the
first
season after; to turn in cover crops; and to reclaim ground that has gotten
too
weedy. I've got about an acre of land that has been tilled.



--
Richard Robinson
www.nasw.org/users/rrobinson/
Hopestill Farm
www.hopestill.com








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