Matt Miles

Thanks, fellas! I appreciate the advice!

Matt

Thanks, John and R Scott!

What do you think about planting peanuts as a warm season soil builder? I've grown them easily in Maryland for a couple years, and they are good nitrogen fixers and I would imagine soil-breakers, as well. I know they grow well in most of the south, so I imagine that means red clay?

I will certainly take your advice w/r to the rest of the crops and how to plant them.

Matt

Thanks to all who responded; your advice is very much appreciated! On the soil now is a layer of grass (not yet sure what kind) that's about 2 to 3 feet high. I'm thinking I should cut the grass and leave it as top mulch or work it into the soil, in preparation for planting. That would be in advance of planting whatever will grow during the winter months--I wouldn't leave the soil bare over winter.

The question now is, how to plant some of these crops? Should I go over the land with a rototiller to break up the surface a bit or just broadcast a mixture of seed onto the surface, Sepp Holzer-style?

Thanks!

Matt

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows a good soil-building cover crop (or mix) for red clay? I'm hopefully about to move onto some property in the piedmont of northwestern North Carolina and the soil seems to be mostly red clay hardpan. I will probably try to do huglekulturs for Zone 1, but I'd like to know what to plant elsewhere that will build up the soil in a couple years enough to get started on a food forest, while saving me from having to mow and manage cleared land.

Thanks in advance,

Matt