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It looks
like Steve and Lloyd pretty much have it covered. I've had my best luck
turning around our clay soil with lots of rotted hay. It's usually easy to
come by old bails that farmers want to get rid of. The best is if there are
round bails that are so broken down that they have a fluffy peat-like
substance all around the bottom. The best rotted hay is also the hay that
seldom gets used, with allot of black berries and old weeds (tough woody
plants). Defiantly the tiller is one of the worst things you can do. If a
spader is not available subsoiling and a chisel plow is your next best bet.
I've got a pile right now of about 35 half rotted bails cooking down
for next year. This is also the best stuff to use for carrots. You can
check out a related article at our web site at www.theruralcenter.org/TheFarm/Plants/Growing.htm
Go to the root page
Dear BD farmers,
This is my first query to all of you. We
have just moved to some land in
southern Maine and have just rototilled our
first patch of soil with the
hopes of working this land
biodynamically.
It appears to be solid clay. Hard, golfball-sized
rocks. What are your
best, first recommendations for beginning
to build this soil, given that we
just got here and have not yet had the
time to start a serious composting
effort?
A local landscaper (not
BD) says he has had his best luck with loads of peat
mixed with compost and
some sand then that is rototilled into the clay.
It seems I remember
Steiner nixing peat in the Agriculture book. So what do
you
experienced farmers know about peat? Also what about gypsum?
Any
and all advice is welcomed. My husband is wondering whether we
ought
not go into the clay pot or brick business
instead!
Thanks.
Cordelia
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