Ken works to keep soil covered. He often says, “Naked soil is dying soil.” He means that either mulch or green manures will maintain moderate soil temperatures to promote microbial life, prevent erosion, add nutrients, – so many things! Ken often mulches. He also likes to plant green manures. What are green manures? It is a crop intended to promote soil health rather than a crop to be harvested. Green manures are often …
Ken encourages broody hens. A broody hen is one who wants to sit on a clutch of eggs and hatch out chicks. Many modern breeds of egg layers have this trait bred out of them. Most egg producers think of production of eggs, and a broody hen sits for three weeks and cares for chicks a couple more after they hatch. She isn’t laying eggs while she does that. We like broody hens that hatch …
Greetings from the Garden! This week’s CSA box has greens – lettuce, spinach, salad and braising greens, beet thins, potatoes, parsnips, sun chokes, onions and potato onions, cilantro, dill, and asparagus Field Notes. Ken has been busy on several fronts – mowing rye in the field, cultivating established beds, planting in field, transplanting by the mobile high tunnel and garden. Spring is a busy time Often I am in the house preparing meals or helping …
