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RE: Request for some practical tips.



The pressure to use something instant is funding.
people on the land in debt to the bank
have to use something quick and absolute, like roundup which has a surfactant (hopefully only in older stock) that removes the skin of amphibians!.
Some people use a very clever method of planting and harvesting that works with the weeds *(sure there may be a reduced harvest quanitity per acre, but the soil less is less and the water retention and organic matter building up in the soil fantastically greater)
the method means ripping the soil with a deep blade -like a yeomans plough
then planting directly in the weedy soil with a tall
crop, taller than the weeds at harvest time. such as corn/maize, wheat, sorghum, etc
then harvest HIGH not low on the ground, this leaves the weeds intact.
*This method was used with great success by Robyn Tredwell,
(Rural Woman of the Year Australia '96) She doesn’t worry about contamination of seed as she has a seed sorting machine and uses any unwanted seed for fragile and exposed areas on her cattle station . She has begun selling seed of native grasses and pasture species to other farmers.

In Western Australia, Ron Watkins, a successful pastorlist and broadacre farmer, uses an organic method too. He allows the weeds to grow to protect the soil before he plants a crop, then he chips the weeds lightly to add them to the soil as green manure. Into the dying weeds he plants the crop.

NEXT STEP:
Have you considered perrenial species such as pigeon pea which is harvested for daal?
April

_____________________________________
Leisure Coast Permaculture Visions
International Permaculture Teaching Project
specialising in distance learning.
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~askpv
______________________________________

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-csa-l@prairienet.org [mailto:owner-csa-l@prairienet.org]On
> Behalf Of Jay Woods
> Sent: Tuesday, 8 September 1998 7:36
> To: DRush35007@aol.com
> Cc: csa-l@prairienet.org
> Subject: Re: Request for some practical tips.
>
>
> The easy answer is Round Up but you will need to garden for three years
> before the produce can be thought of as organic.
>
> Don't rototill.  You will be fighting weeds for a long time.  What I did
> when I needed to start with a weedy patch was plant winter rye in the fall
> and white clover in the spring.  I wasn't in a hurry to get started with
> annuals.  The perennials were being planted first.
>
> The vegetables were dug-bed planted after two years of this.  All the
> winter rye cuttings, tree prunings, and big weeds which were hand pulled
> were composted and used in the dug beds.  The rye, clover rotation stopped
> most of the weeds and grasses in their tracks.
>
> ---Jay
>
> On Mon, 7 Sep 1998 DRush35007@aol.com wrote:
>
> > I have just moved into a house sitting on 1/2 acre in Oklahoma
> City.  I am
> > taking a class called Master Gardener at the local County
> Extension.  This
> > year is my learning year for crop production.  When I think I
> am ready, I will
> > look at buying or leasing some land out of town, and hopefully
> set up a CSA.
> > Any way I hope it is ok to ask for a little practical advice on
> this board.
> > If not please let me know.  I am planning to start with a section of the
> > garden about 4,000 square feet.   The soil is almost pure sand,
> and it is
> > currently covered with bermuda grass.  At the Extension they
> are telling me to
> > clear it with Round Up, ready for fortifying and planting in
> the spring.  I am
> > assuming round up is toxic, and not desireable (I want to learn
> organic way).
> > I suspect a cover crop, or sheet mulch may be better, but have
> no experience,
> > so would love to hear some alternative suggestions. Along those
> lines, I am
> > not sure if I should get a rototiller or not.  I dont know what
> is a feasible
> > area to think in terms of spading.  Again any thougts would be helpfull.
> > Finally, any suggestions for a fall/winter vegetable crop.  It
> is currently
> > very hot, and very dry here, but the first frost may come late October.
> >
> > Thanks from hot and sunny Oklahoma City.  If any one on the
> list is located in
> > my neighborhood, please let me know, I am anxious to network.
> >
> > Dave
> >
>
>


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