Spring Mulch on Site aka Chop and Drop Mulching

It’s important to consider our unique Mediterranean climate this particular time of year. Getting a basic understanding of how our seasons, the hydrologic cycle and your gardens all interact is not only fascinating but essential for healthy plants and soil life.

chop and drop wheat and other grasses for green mulch

 

Precipitation exceeds evaporation in the Spring*.  Air and soil temperatures gradually rise with increasing daylight hours, critters become more active, plants begin to grow again and everyone thrives with the moisture and additional warmth of early Spring.  How we can utilize this seasonal activity to our benefit and ultimately the health of the whole landscape? 

Mulch-on-Site 
aka Chop and Drop mulching

Random photos of Springtime in Northern California

for your enjoyment...

Akebia quniata

Ladybug eggs next to aphids

Chard and mint

Turkey tail mushrooms

EARN YOUR PERMACULTURE DESIGN CERTIFICATE!

Earth Care - People Care - Fair Share

PERMACULTURE OFFERS POSITIVE SOLUTIONS TO A PLANET IN CRISIS

PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE

with Cathe’ Fish & Neil Bertrando

March 12- March 20, 2011

BLUEBIRD FARM – SUSTAINABLE FARM IN NEVADA CITY, CA

Learn how to design for stability, resilience, and abundance at a farm that is dedicated to sustainability and community health. Gain hands-on skills in sustainable systems design and application.

Permaculture provides a framework for consciously designed landscapes that mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature. These systems yield an abundance of shelter, water, energy, and food for the provision of local needs that provide diversity, stability, and resilience for local populations.

DISCOVER SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR FARM, RURAL LAND OR SUBURBAN BACKYARD 

Planting for Seed Saving

ADAPT YOUR PLANTS, INCREASE DIVERSITY

Calendula seed

Here are a few tips for planting success:

•       If your intentions are to save seed from certain plants -grow more plants than you think you need.  This allows room for error and the unexpected and also ensures there will be enough plants from which to harvest all your seed.

•       Saving seed requires you grow plants to maturity.  This means they get a lot bigger when not harvested or deadheaded, so leave more room around them.  The plants you let go to seed will most likely be growing in random places so be fairly flexible in your overall garden design and subsequent plantings.

•       Think about isolation.  This means in space (location) or in time (month of seed harvest) or both.  By doing so you maximize the chance of maintaining the specific variety you're after. Look up recommended isolation distances or choose early and late varieties that flower at different times. Remember to try and check with your neighbors -they might be growing something that will cross!  If they are, you will need to isolate yours with physical barriers to prevent pollen transfer.  If it’s a GMO, ask them to buy open pollinated seed instead!

Chive seedhead