Fallow Land and Soil Structure

Farmer Henry Brockman makes the case for two year rest cycles for vegetable soils.

Footage was shot during a field day at his family's Mackinaw River Valley farm in Illinois.

henrysfarm.com/

Fall 2008

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Soil Structure
• Soil
• Fertility
• Organic
• Vegetable
• Farming
• Sustainability
• ASAP
• Brockman
• Fallow
• University
• of
• Illinois

[nichins]

That's something I've been thinking about too... giving the soil a rest from the plow. I agree completely that there's no way around it - farming is unsustainable.

I've been wondering about a rotation with something like 3-5 years pasture and then a couple years annual crop. I think you could fix nitrogen if you had legumes in your pasture and you'd provide organic matter with the livestock manure. The livestock would also provide some income from the fallow fields.

[TheWebock]

I'm just learning about not disturbing the soil. I have a container garden and have recently decided to stop wasting my time emptying and filling pots. There must be a better way and I think that not disturbing the soil is one of them. Thanks for posting your thoughts. I am interested in hearing more. Some day, God willing, I just might have a real piece of land to connect to along with, or instead of what's in my pots. Blessings.