Seeded Crops and Living Mulch near Missoula, Montana

[creationisevolution]

In the Netherlands we have certain soilbound diseases wich will rise with continu use of clover (and legumes in general). how are the experience with that problem in your regions?

[Revolutionisnow1]

Very cool! I'm trying the living mulch in spots myself this year and very happy with results. Had the same with my beans and now know why thank you for sharing!

[sejamerson]

Just finished "One Straw Revolution" last night and was delighted to find this video about using clover as 'green manure'. Very well made video - is this part of a series? Thanks Paul & Helen - very inspiring.

[paulwheaton12]

@sejamerson yup. two others in this series are already up on youtube.  more to come.

[hatthowe]

@sejamerson

Also there are more at my website - veganicpermaculture in the "agroecology experiments" link. My work with Fukuoka's sytem for grain production is there as well.

Helen

[sejamerson]

Just finished "One Straw Revolution" last night and was delighted to find this video about using clover as 'green manure'. Very well made video - is this part of a series? Thanks Paul & Helen - very inspiring.

[AllynWally]

If your really interested in living systems and how they affect us here on earth, check out this film that's being made - (sorry I can't put a direct link, you'll have to change the DOT part) here it is: indiegogo[DOT]com/sust-enable-­the-metamentary

[nerdmom920]

So good to hear. I wonder if a hugelkultur bed could make a difference in the nitrogen immobilization and also reduce need for irrigation. I have tons of volunteer squash and potato plants growing up surrounded by clover and violets and they are growing strong. They grew up through the clover at that. You KNOW I'll be saving those seeds.

[Seaboojeej]

Good one. Thanks!

[carltonhobbs]

Here in Texas summer, I need a different living mulch as clover quickly becomes a dead mulch. I've got 8 foot tall sunflowers though.

[pestanah]

@carltonhobbs hi..what kind of living mulch do u use? red clover is a cooler climate plant am i right? im trying to find a living mulch/green manure suitable for the hotter/tropical climate

[hatthowe]

@pestanah

I saw a yellow-flowered ground cover legume in Panama and Coast Rica that was not native. It was being used as an understory in forest garden systems and would be a great living mulch - don't remeber the name.

[pestanah]

@hatthowe hi is the plant u are refering to, Arachis pintoi? They are also found in my country's man-made urban garden landscape

[hatthowe]

@pestanah Yes! that is the name. It reminds me in growth form of my all time favorite cooler climate living mulch, subterrenan clover, which does not produce the greates biomass, but when kept mowed or tilled in contributes good nitrogen levels. Like most living mulches, it does not contribute N until mowed or tilled in. Nobody seemed to be using it as a green manure - wonder why?

Found this info from Hawaii: may reduce nitrogen availability in the soil during establisment.

[hatthowe]

@carltonhobbs

Yes, I used the Australian medics where I did not have irrigation - snail and parabinga medic are adapted to hot, dry climates. They are annuals, but re-seed in warm climates.

[zdriver]

Thanks Paul. Wondering what benefits a living mulch system gives over using normal mulch? I would think set up time and cost would be about the same.

[paulwheaton12]

@zdriver depends on the mulch. I would think in general living mulch would be cheaper.  I'm a big fan of polyculture and closed canopy systems - which a living mulch is getting closer to.

[hatthowe]

@paulwheaton12

A dead mulch does not enhance the soil microbial population the way a living mulch will so is not able to suppress diseases and insects well, dead mulches generally have a higher C:N ratio (less nitrogen) and do not balance soil moisture as well (wet soils are wetter with dead or normal mulches). Living mulches can compete with you crop plants for nutrients and water. I just set up an experiment with 7 acres of broccoli transplants sown directly into seeded yellow clover!

[jaymeez]

She looks like she is in Great Shape!! Maybe I need to start farming so I can get guns like that.... BTW next time you talk to her ask her which way to the beach lol....

[paulwheaton12]

@jaymeez I think this video is of the beach

[hatthowe]

@jaymeez

You are welcome to volunteer at my new farm - 2000 acres and 56 crops keeps us all in shape.

[EzeeSKANKIN]

interesting