A couple of ideas come to mind that might help keep that expensive
fertility in place.
The right cover crop combination can go a long way keeping fertility
on the site with the extra benefit of hosting pollinators, etc.
Also biochar application is purported to help hold nutrients over
time, along with the bonus of sequestering atmospheric carbon. We
have a small trial going but nothing to report yet, although plenty
are singing the praises.
What's WAG?
Scott Vlaun
Moose Pond Arts+Ecology
Design Solutions for a Sustainable Future
On Dec 3, 2009, at 9:14 AM, Margaret & Steven Eisenhauer wrote:
I suspect all these fertility imports are unsustainable in a post oil
world.
So how do I garner fertility without employing a tremendous amount of
overhead, and the work to apply these materials?
I am looking at the farm organism model whereby there are many players -
plants/animals/microbes/people - all of which will do work for food
with the
potential result of balance and resource availability/fertility.
This is
systems modeling but with the added WAG that goes along with learning
from
experience and often failing.
It is not easy or cheap - So my hat is off to those that are trying new
things and letting us know about it!