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A Farm of My Own:  we bought the farm!  |
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MereOnceMoore
Farmgirl in Training
33 Posts
Meredith
IL
33 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 03 2011 : 3:19:16 PM
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So now we have 5 acres which has been involved in industrial agriculture for a very long time. Any suggestions of what to plant to get this soil back in healthy shape?
Argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours. |
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embchicken
True Blue Farmgirl
1487 Posts
Elaine
Ocean
NJ
USA
1487 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2011 : 6:33:38 PM
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Congratulations Meredith!
~ Elaine
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
embchicken.blospot.com
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2011 : 7:24:57 PM
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No suggestions from me about the soil, but wow! Congratulations on the farm! Way to go!!
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
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ChickieMama
True Blue Farmgirl
303 Posts
Angela
Banks
Oregon
USA
303 Posts |
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Shi-anne
True Blue Farmgirl
596 Posts
Cheryl
Ada
OK
USA
596 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2011 : 08:20:45 AM
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Congratulations on your new home!
You should be able to take soil samples to you Extension office, where they can test it to see what it is lacking....then you would have a better idea what to plant to enrich your dirt. Many of the ground covers help to restore the soil.
http://theprairiemaid.blogspot.com/
Farmgirls don't have hot flashes ~ They have power surges! |
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Heartbroken farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
604 Posts
Annette
rio vista
Ca
USA
604 Posts |
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Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2011 : 12:36:18 AM
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Meredith, you don't say whether the soil had pesticides applied onto it. If so, the soil can hold these for up to 10 or more years, depending on how often and how much was used. If you are looking to raise crops organically, you will have to wait til the soil is leeched out; you can plant flowers or non-edible plants, then pull those out--they will pull pesticides out with them. If you want to grow food in a highly pesticided area, I strongly suggest raised beds with added soil from elsewhere other than your property, at least for the first few seasons.
If pesticides are not a problem, and you want to amend the soil, get a good cover crop (buckwheat/clover/mustard green), grow it, and then turn it into the soil--as green manure. You can also add rabbit manure or cured chicken manure as fertilizer. Depending on the PH, you can also add ash, bone meal or pine needles to even out the PH. Hope this helps some.
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
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walkinwalkoutcattle
True Blue Farmgirl
1675 Posts
Megan
Paint Lick
KY
USA
1675 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2011 : 02:25:49 AM
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all your local extension office or soil studies dept. if you have a local university. :)
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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gypsy goat
True Blue Farmgirl
673 Posts
mary jo
michigan
673 Posts |
Posted - Apr 05 2011 : 07:28:39 AM
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congrats on buying the farm!!
farmgirl#1362 whatever you are be a good one-abe lincoln |
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nursekat424
True Blue Farmgirl
99 Posts
Crystal
Frazee
MN
USA
99 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 06:23:05 AM
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Hi, i have been reading where hairy vetch is a good covercrop to help "fix" the soil. i'm really new to farming/gardening, but hope this helps. enjoy your new farm!!!!
Crystal
#2218
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. ~Theodore Roosevelt
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A Farm of My Own: we bought the farm! |
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we bought the farm!
