I am sure you have
heard the word “Sustainable” agriculture/farming. On our farm, we use sustainable farming
practices, meaning our concerns and methods allow
for the production of crops and livestock in such a way that it does not damage
the land or its natural resources, preserving it for future generations.
We
conserve irrigation water by the use of a drip system on our vegetables and
have installed a timer to keep the watering consistent. Another sustainable practice is the rotation
of crops which helps to keep the soil full of nutrients. In our winter months, we plant Fava beans
which not only are wonderful to eat, but are high in nitrogen. In the spring, we mulch the plants and plow
them back into the soil enriching nitrogen naturally. We plant potatoes for our CSA customers which
when finished, leaves the soil higher in nitrogen. This year, where I had previously grown the
potatoes, we planted green beans, which just LOVE nitrogen. It is suggested for small vegetable gardeners
that there should be 3 sections of planting; each year to completely rotate
around each section i.e. When Section 1 is finished, it goes to Section 2; 2
goes to section 3; 3 goes back to section 1 on the 3rd year. Of course, it is always recommended to
compost in your yard and to put your mulch back into your soil when needed or
during the winter months. (photo is example of gardening sections)
Around
our property lines, we have left the blackberries and trees and brush to help
wildlife alive and a natural setting. I am not saying it is wrong, but so many
farmers cut down every tree, spray or burn every bush, weed, plant on their
irrigation ditches and property lines to maximize planting of crops. We try and encourage birds to help eat
insects so we have put up bluebird boxes; bird feeders and have owl boxes to
help with the gopher problems. I saw
recently an idea where people put out yarns in a basket for the birds to use
for nesting. I am a knitter so I have
lots of bits and pieces of yarn, I will be doing that next year to encourage
nesting in the nearby trees.
I feel
that our sustainable practices must be working because our small 5 acre farm
has a den of foxes in the back; we have blue birds nesting in our boxes; the
trees are filled with every imaginable bird; I have frogs everyplace; so far
this year I have seen 4 snakes (good ones); we have owls in our boxes; we have
a big family of quail that live in the blackberries and roam around our place;
we have our resident pheasant; and loads and loads of bees on anything that is blooming. All living in harmony with Frank and I as we
weed our vegetables, disk our fields; water the orchard. Now I must say one negative about this
friendly relationship. Those darn birds
are getting into my cherry trees before I have had a chance to pick
them!!! I am going to get out my netting
today to try and save my cherry crops!!
They are going to have to stay with worms.
Some
gardening tips and suggestions for this week:
Don’t forget to water now that the weather is warming up. Check those
drip systems and sprinklers so they are working properly. Trees are best deep soaked well a couple
times a week rather than quick sprinkling, it encourages roots to go
deeper. May is traditionally a time to
fertilize trees, shrubs, flowers to give them a good start for the summer.
Gardening
is fun and so rewarding for yourself and your family. If you don’t have much area to put in a
garden, then have a few pots. Plant a tomato, maybe some herbs or a cucumber
plant. Put some sticks in the pots and
have the cukes grow up instead of down.
I saw these mason jars used as hanging lights, thought they would be so
cute for summer dinners.
From
Windmill Farm-
