Re: composting vs. soil application of organic residues-FWD
Sal (sals@rain.org)
Thu, 24 Sep 1998 08:13:04 -0700
To me no till does not mean round up it means mow. I don't like to brake
the ground any more and destroy the soil food web . I don't even hoe much
anymore. I live in S. Ca. and we get no rain in summer. So I let the weeds
grow all winter and in mid summer I cut them also all pruning branches are
also left on the ground . I find that is all I have to add after years of
being organic. These last few years I have had no off farm in puts and no
compost and I find my trees are doing great. I think after so many years of
organic growing you can stop adding stuff. I hope I will not get kick out of
CCOF and lose my organicness for neglect but I don't think I have to add
anything. Forget about it . So my farm plan will say cats eat the rats and
I just mow and that is it. that is my plan . easy to file a farm plan
because I don't add anything and have no off farm in puts. I cut the weeds
and they keep the ground covered all summer and the pruning off the trees
don't last on the ground long so the only thing I carry off the land is the
fruit. All the residue stays were it falls. I think next year I will not
even cut the weeds and I will also try to plant a few plants for the
beneficials to get pollen and nectar and that is about it. I am getting old
and would like to see how the place will do on it own. I have the trees
under drip . I would like to see if the fava beans will replant themselves.
Nothing but the trees get water so most all weed dye off and return to
soil.This is not a farm factory it is a way of life. Next year I may not
even prune. I may just harvest and that is it. Residue is the way to go
for me. I have seen residue work with my own eyes. Get that soil food web
working that is all you have to do.
We are getting a lot of new bugs in S. Ca. and every year something comes
in and wants to kill me off. this year it is a thrips that turns the
Avocados gold and you cannot sell them , last year it was a mite that made
all the leaves drop, The USDA is letting in fruit from everywhere now so we
are seeing a new killer pest about every 6 months or so in S. Ca. I feel it
is just a matter of time. You would think that if the USDA will let fruit
come in from all over the world they would also let the beneficials from
those place come in. If they would spend more moneys on biology and less
on chemistry in doing research we would all be better off. They want to
genetic engineer life before they understand it. It use to be in Ca. when
we got a pest, research would find a beneficials and get it under control
and even eliminate it. I guess there was no money in that so now all the
money goes to changing DNA and engineering and owning life. Where are the
natural biologists that can find answers in nature. That is were our
research money should be going. A natural fix is a lot more sustainable
than a chemical one in my point of view.
check out a organic growers web page
http://www.rain.org/~sals/my.html
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