Steve Groff & no-till

Janet Bachmann (janetb@ncatark.uark.edu)
Mon, 10 Aug 1998 09:26:15 +0000

For those who asked, Steve Grove can be contacted at:

sgroff@epix.net

Cedar Meadow Farm
679 Hilldale Road
Holtwood, PA 17523
(717) 284-5152

http://www.cedarmeadowfarm.com

His video does show the Buffalo stalk chopper in action.

In regard to the question about less expensive alternatives, I share
that question! Rather than roll-killing winter cover crops, I have
mow-killed them using a lawn mover or a sickle bar attachment to our
BCS rototiller. I wait until the clover, vetch, and rye are just
starting to bloom. At that time, close mowing will kill them. IF the
residue left on the surface is thick enough, it will provide good
weed control. Also may be some allelopathy from the rye straw. If
the clover and vetch are allowed to set mature seed before mowing, it
is possible to get a cover crop the next winter without purchasing
and planting seed again.

For planting large seeded stuff, like melons, pumpkins, corn . . . A
person could try using a "jab planter." We used these in
experimental plots to plant corn in Ames, IA. One seed per jab. But
when a person got the hang of it, it went pretty fast. These
planters are available from companies such as Seedburo
(www.seedburo.com) that specialize in stuff for researchers, and I
have seen them in catalogs from some seed companies, maybe Johnnie's?
The one time I tried planting corn this way through mulch in my
market garden, however, I got a very poor stand. Need to try again.

Janet Bachmann
NCAT/ATTRA
P.O. Box 3657
Fayetteville, AR 72702
Telephone: 501-442-9824
Fax: 501-442-9842
E-mail: janetb@ncatark.uark.edu

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