permaculture

["Permaculture West" <permawest@olywa.net>]

        I've found the idea of sowing deliberately chosen weed seeds into 
existing
pasture or naturally weedy areas interesting.  I've often pondered this
same tactic as a means of enhancing forage for my goats and cows.  However,
the area where my animals range is predominantly covered with reed canary
grass.  For anyone not familiar with this plant, it is extremely invasive,
aggressive, and dominating in any ecosystem it invades.  I've chosen to
range my animals across this area as a means of succeeding the grass.  My
hope is that the animals will constantly graze this grass while
simultaneously enriching the soil with their poop thus setting the stage
for the next succession of plants to take over (i.e. the perennial
herbs/weeds).  As this is my first chance to experiment with such a
"controlled transition" I am not sure how long the evolution will take. 
This has prompted me to consider forcing the succession somewhat by
attempting to sow certain weed seeds into the area.  I'm not real keen on
tilling as this isn't very good for the soil and doesn't hamper the canary
grass whatsoever.  Has anyone experimented with canary grass control and/or
sowing alternate crops (i.e. weeds) into it?
        On another note...would spreading mineral amendments on top of grassy,
weedy, or otherwise untilled areas be anywhere as effective as working it
into the soil or is this a complete waste of time and resources?  I have
some trees planted into a pasture and am considering mineralizing the whole
area as opposed to each individual tree.  I assume the minerals will still
find their way into the soil and be used by the trees.

Kirk Hanson
C/O Permaculture West
72 Mattson Rd.
Oakville, WA 98568
ph./fx. (360) 273-7117
e-mail: permawest@olywa.net