It's never too late to start! I retired to homestead on the slopes of Mauna Loa, an active volcano. I relate snippets of my endeavor on my blog : www.kaufarmer.blogspot.com
List of Bryant RedHawk's Epic Soil Series Threads We love visitors, that's why we live in a secluded cabin deep in the woods. "Buzzard's Roost (Asnikiye Heca) Farm." Promoting permaculture to save our planet.
Eric Bee wrote:I was thinking food, but yeah, a cover crop is always good especially if it's both! R Ranson, do you winter sow fava for spring? They are somewhat cold hardy but I thought they like 60s best.
I sow most covers in mid- late-October but I'm zone 8b-9a. Hairy vetch can be sown later, but even though Fava is related they aren't frost tolerant as far as I know. Debbie, are you around 7b to 8a?
Maybe find out what cover crops people around your land plant and when.
We won't be back until again April.
Do you think Kale germinate this time of year?
I need a ground cover as the cleared portion is bare.
Eric Bee wrote:Holy rain shadow batman.
Ok, so cover crop. With that rain, given the timing, it wouldn't make much sense to do anything else. Kale will germinate at quite low temps, but obviously you'll need water. And by the time you came back it would be long done. Even so, it's maybe too late for all but really cold hardy like rye or hairy vetch.
Our area is dry fir, pine but we do have cedar as well. For water resources we have 2 springs and a well that produces 50 - 60 gal a min
Eric Bee wrote:Interesting. So actually you get a lot more rain -- 572mm in 2015, 518mm in 2014, and plenty in the winter for the cover crop. Looks pretty good to me. If it were me I'd go with the fava and throw in some vetch or rye or whatever is handy that will germinate in low temps -- I see in November 2015 the high was 12C and low -11. Edit: we posted at the same time -- that's the spirit!"
I just found a government site: Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification Program.
Which classifies Enderby as a IDFMW1 which ( If I understand it properly) translates as Interior Douglas Fir Mild Warm Dry.Wi
Fava, Vetch and winter cereal it is! oh, and garlic of course!
Farmers are funny about thinking outside the box but it's for good reason. When you are taking out a loan so you can buy seed getting creative is a bad idea. On my scale (loan? hah!) at least I have the option to experiment here and there without losing my land. Well in theory at least.
Willie Smits increased rainfall 25% in three years by planting trees. Tiny ad:
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