OK, SO IT'S REALLY JUST FISH BONES, NOT MERMAIDS
PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK WITH A PEACH TREE
FOUND IT!
IMAGINE CORN
Clover Creek Family Farm grows many things, but wine grapes are their cash crop. The winery they sell their grapes to makes biodynamic wine, so it's only fitting that Clover Creek is a biodynamic farm. Thurston and Annelle have always farmed organically, as they believe food should be whole, nutritious, and healthful. They believe in symbiotic relationships and realize using anything except natural substances throws off the composition of the soil as well as the crops. As such, they do not utilize any chemical fertilizers on any of their crops, whether for sale or their own consumption. Many years ago, being an organic farmer separated you from everyone else. Nowadays, organic is becoming more commonplace, as many conventional commercial growers transition over to organics because they see it as an opportunity to charge higher prices, yet being a biodynamic farmer draws a new line, going above and beyond the standard requirements of the organic label.
Farming biodynamically means many things and is interpreted in many ways. However, all biodynamic farmers are using similar preparations to increase the humus in their soil. Soil content should not only be alive, with microbial activity, it should also be balanced; ensuring there is enough nitrogen, protein, minerality, and acid is essential to growing the strongest crops. This morning we crushed fish bone powder into a finer powder and added that, along with finely ground phosphorous into water. We used that water solution to fertilize the soil in the greenhouse. The fish powder added protein to the soil, and the phosphorus powder ensure the soil can convert phosphate into a soluble form, which in addition to many other benefits, promotes balance healthy growth.
Biodynamic farmers all stress the importance of compost. Everyone makes compost their own way, but having it is essential. It's obviously best if you have animals on your land and can use their manure. However, it's not realistic for everyone to have cows or pigs or goats or sheep or horses. Stiener suggested cow manure is ideal, but really any other animal byproduct works. Thurston and Annelle have a neighbor, Patty, with a horse ranch and more manure than she knows what to do with. Patty generously shares it with them whenever they need it...which was yesterday. We headed over to Patty's with six large garbage cans in tow and some shovels. We filled each garbage can to the brim and loaded them back into the car. Upon our return, we covered four long rows with manure. If Annelle and Thurston had more compost readily available, they would have spread it over the field instead, but since they use over 20 tons of compost in the vineyard, there isn't much to spare. Thurston will till this manure into the ground and ready the area for planting an heirloom variety of Mexican corn in a few weeks. When planting corn, it's essential to plant at least four rows to ensure full cross pollination. If you plant less than four rows, you will most likely have ears that are not fully developed and missing many kernels. Also, corn is seeded directly into the ground instead of being planted in small cells and transplanted into the ground. Crops vary, but corn does best when planted directly and it is strong enough to flourish straight into the ground. Four rows of corn may be a lot for just a family garden, but think of how incredibly delicious and sweet summer corn is. Can you taste it?
No comments:
Post a Comment