Tuesday, August 6, 2013

CAUTION: HEAVY BOXES


The farm is still having very nice weather so Andy and Lizzie are able to work outside.  Because there are so many young tender plants in the ground that don't have mature root systems, they are having to run the irrigation system.  There are vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, kale, chard, and carrots...which they hope to harvest some time in the fall.  Right now they still have lettuce, spinach, spicy greens, turnips and more vegetables to plant in the future.
 
CAUTION...Lift your y legs this week because they are REALLY HEAVY!!!
 

Andy continues to educate us on the organic growing methods used on Cedarmore Farm.
 
Growing Methods

The land on the farm has been divided into three sections.  This way they are able to rotate the crops in each section every two years with a year of fallow in between.  During the fallow year they keep putting in cover crops and then plow them under.  This really helps to build the humus in the soil (an element that is often overlooked in the most modern day agricultural world).  If the weather permits he likes to put in a crop of oats in the spring.  Then about mid-June, July it is plowed down and a crop of buckwheat is planted.  If they are having a really good year there would be another planting and harvesting of buckwheat.  But when it is dry like this year, he only expects to get in one crop.  In late summer or fall they will put in a crop of rye to overwinter.  This will be plowed down in the spring and then produce will be planted.  Also during a fallow year, as the cover crops are growing, Andy will spread composted manure from the cows, horses, pigs and other animals on the farm.  The 'egg mobile' will be moved to different spots in these fields so the chickens can do their job fertilizing the soil.    And in turn they produce a good quality egg since these cover crops provide a good source of protein for the chickens.

To Be Continued...

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