Michigan native vegetation.

clovers

https://www.everwilde.com/store/Dalea-candida-WildFlower-Seed.html

#Michigan
#NativePlants
#clover
#farming
#crops (ground cover)
#CoverCrop

Summer cover crops are much more photogenic than the winter ones

#farming #covercrop #sunflower

Worked on #sowing more #CoverCrop #seeds for #SoilRemediation & #rewilding our yards. I'll update later on the plant seeds sowed - pretty big list. Both of these blends are #beneficial for #PollinatorGardens too. Many are also #edible for humans & wildlife. Sourced from #SmallFarmers ✌👩‍🌾

#GardenersOfMastodon #SDFgardeners #SaveSoil #SeedsOfTheRevolution #GardeningForClimateChange #Wsanec #Saanich #VictoriaBC #yyj #vanisle #VancouverIsland #PNW #PacificNorthwest #SelfSufficiency #SeedSavers

https://youtube.com/watch?v=sDMDPPjIZ_E&feature=shares #letsgrow #garden #CoverCrop

The #covercrop is a good height to mow, but the orchard floor is still pretty wet. We'll give it a try before the weekend. Enjoy the glimpse of Topa Topa in the background.

First project today: replacing the exhaust manifold on the tractor. If it goes smoothly, might get to mow some if the #covercrop before the storm arrives tomorrow.

Hammer time. Or a little past hammer time based on the wear on the flail mower. Will be ready to mow #covercrop once I'm done. (Not including oil change, and replacement of cracked exhaust manifold and leaking oil pan gasket)

#covercrop inspection

Pearl, a white German Shepherd, trots through a stand of covercrop amongst the #avocado trees planted last summer.

A final(?) #covercrop observation for this storm. In addition to other benefits, they allow orchard access sooner than uncovered mud. Ludwig and Pearl stick to the tire tracks. To conceal their numbers?

Rain fed winter #covercrop helps keep our soil open and rich in organic matter, absorbing more water for our long hot summer.

Daikon radishes starting to emerge. We use them as part of our #covercrop program occasionally to help break up some heavier soil.

Germinating #covercrop seed posted in recognition of #WorldSoilDay . Most was better incorporated, but underground seeds make for lousy pix. Building a better soil for our #avocados future.

Ready for #covercrop seeding in the #avocado orchard, at least in those rows wide and sunny enough. I love the soil we're building here.

Phoebe and Pearl inspect the tillage job in the #MeyerLemons . We rarely break the soil surface, but with rain coming we will spend the next two days prepping and broadcasting #covercrop seed where appropriate for the orchard.

We're ready. And excited! But since we were busy with Farm Day yesterday, we didn't put the #covercrop down. A rain this early is often followed by a dry period that is tough on newly sprouted cover. Time will tell if this is the right call.

I just took a #soilhealth class at my local library and here are some #interesting things I learned:
- Soil & Water Dep's were started because of the Dust Bowl
- Soil loss is the no.1 polluter in #NC
- 200 farms left in my county and the depr encourages #NoTillFarming and #CoverCrop
- #Soil tests rec every 3 yrs and ID Ph, micro, and macro nutrients
- Our area doesn't test for N as it's usually not a problem in our clay and loamy soil
- Phosphorus is the biggest issue to address here
- Con't...

We've planted sorgum grass as a #CoverCrop for the #garden. It fixes #nitrogen in the #soil and suppresses weeds.

Honestly I have no idea what i'm doing, but it feels good.