One of our first and favorite experiments – the DIY stake a cage
If you have espouse us for any amount of time now , you roll in the hay that we love to try on new thing in the garden . And now that we in conclusion live at the farm , we are not about to stop that tradition this year !
A small part of me wonder why we are strain this class ’s large experiment . But then again , it establish perfect sense ! We ’ll get to that in a present moment .
One of our first and favorite experiments – the DIY stake a cage
Ever since we begin gardening , our garden has really been one great great experiment . First with theraised rows , then compensate crops . Then planting through cover crops for a completely no - boulder clay , no work garden . And of track other trials like thestake - a cages , growingpotatoes in crates , and more .
The first few years , we covered our walk rows with wheat and parting
With each new test , we were just look for a path to simplify . To grow our food organically , with less maintenance , less scuffle , and more fun .
The first few years, we covered our walking rows with straw and leaves
When we first created our rows in 2011 – we used what we had on bridge player to cover our take the air rows . That was straw and leaves . They work fairly well in keeping Mary Jane out of our rows , but the straw was a bit pricey , and we want to try something that was a bit more lasting and less expensive .
So we trialed bark shavings that were an inexpensive by - product of a nearby sawmill . They have worked unbelievably well . In fact , so well that this is where I say I somewhat question why we are trying something new at all .
But even though the Sir Henry Wood chip bark has worked great for us , we would get email after e-mail from readers asking for other inexpensive way . Not everyone has memory access to gimcrack woods chip , straw , or leaves . In fact , there are also a bunch of people who have trouble find even compost material for their compost mass . And then the light bulb go off ! What if we used cover crop in the grow rows to keep out grass – AND provide great compost material all summertime long .
Using Cover Crops For Our Walking Rows
Last year , for the full garden , we actually keep our blanket crops in the rows and never turn over the dirt . The result ? one of our good gardens ever without any work of twist the soil over .
We have used all barque micro chip for the last few days , and the locoweed have been near 0
During that process , we mowed off the strips of the cover crop all spring , using the bagged contents to throw into our compost pile . It was the brightest , unripe , most fertile shred clippings we could have add , and I am positive it really helped our compost flock do even estimable .
We have used all bark chips for the last few years, and the weeds have been near 0
So … what if we just simply found some of our walking rowing in a cover crop like one-year rye . I mean the barque chips figure out incredibly well . They really do , But they do cost a slight bit , and we do have to supervene upon them a bit every few years . Now you get the most low maintenance , constituent solution of all !
So this year , we will graze off one - quarter of our bark walking row and habituate that to aid top off the remainder of walking rows still in bark . Next , we will sow those empty take the air rows with a dense seeding of annual rye in the other saltation . Annual Rye Seed
The Hopeful Result…
First off , it ’s dirt loud – pardon the wordplay ! And there benefits only get better from there .
As the annual crop grows , we can can apply our sacking push mower to mow the walking rows easy . We can then ditch those clippings continually into our compost bins all summer long . After all , the middle of summertime and late spring , it can be hard to find enough material . This is the perfect solution .
The stocky lucullan annual rye whiskey clippings will be cracking for the compost pile
The thick , succulent cover of one-year rye will snuff out any skunk in the rows , and be loose to take the air on when it rain . And those burnished green walking row should appear more like the fairways of a lucullan golf course . It ’s a wheel that should easy be able to repeated every spring without ever having to till a thing .
I guess we will see if it work . Who knows , perchance in a few year you will see photos of our garden with all light-green walking rows and no barque mulch . We will be certain to let you know how it works . Who knows , perchance we can make this an even lower price , lower maintenance garden . And I am sure we will still endeavor to do something new ! 🙂 After all , that is the thrill of gardening – you just never know !
Happy Gardening – Jim and Mary ! We hope you enjoyed this week ’s gardening article ! If you would like to receive ourDIY , Gardening and Recipearticles each hebdomad , you’re able to sign up to watch over the blog via email in the ripe hand column above , “ Like ” us onFacebook , or follow us onTwitter . This article may contain affiliate connection .
The thick lush annual rye clippings will be great for the compost pile
