I also got three of the four beds in the high tunnel covered with manure. I pushed the wheelbarrow through the snow, while the cows were still tied up from the morning milking. That will give us the 120 days to harvest from when manure was applied. The fourth bed will have early lettuce and beans. Beans don't need high nitrate as they go into symbiosis with nitrate fixing bacteria in their roots. They actually make pockets for the bacteria to live and they turn to pink little balls on the roots if they are active. Very cool, I will send a picture when it happens.
Which brings me to the books I read this winter and things I intuitively believed for a long time that plants if in healthy microbial active soil by giving off sugars and acids through their roots can steer the soil life to get nutrients delivered to them and to protect them form diseases. It is estimated that they give off as much as 30% or more of their assimilated products to feed the soil life. The key to diverse life is to not disturb the soil so mycorhiza can grow.
I hope you all have a wonderful winter. I love winter as it gives me time off from the busy garden season and time to visit with friends and to reflect.
Please sign up for the summer CSA, you can take a $10 early bird discount if you sign up before the end of March. I am also attaching the" Bonus Buck "application for people with lower income.
Be well,
Dulli
2023 CSA Online Sign-up (pay online)
2023 CSA Old Fashioned sign-up form (download pdf form and pay by check)

2023summercsa.pdf |