Daniel Mroz

I recently purchased some seed for Kodiak mustard cover crop without reading much about it before. After getting home and researching it, I found the following description: "Kodiak (Brassica juncea): Suppresses soilborne fungal pathogens and nematodes, produces more biomass than other varieties".

I also came across this article " When (if) You Should Use Mustard to Fumigate" http://www.homesteadandgardens.com/use-mustards-fumigate-soil/ which made me question whether I should even use it. Is this article overblown?

My initial plan was to use this in beds that will be planted in late spring. Will this destroy the soil life I have been working to build? Would it be effective at reducing symphalans? Are garden beds an appropriate place to use it? How about under fruit trees? I am particularly thinking it might be effective cover under a peach tree that has had some off and on curl.

Hello! My first post here!

This spring I am wanting to try naturally brooding ducklings. I currently have 3 females (2 Swedish, 1 welsh harlequin) and 1 male (Swedish). We have introduced babies before after incubating them and keeping them indoors for the first several weeks. Keeping them inside was a little tedious with the how frequent I had to change the bedding. Once we introduced the babies our male at the time (welsh harlequin) was not very nice to them and would chase the babies.

Would natural brooding increase the likelihood of being accepted by the male? Should I keep the mama and babies separate from the others?

Someone also told me I am just inviting raccoons by letting them be brooded by the mother. Any thought on this? I am in the SW washington suburbs, and have had a couple casualties from raccoons.

Any other special considerations on natural brooding?

Thanks!