[Farmall] O/T...."what can I grow"?

[Al Jones]

Stay away from wood chips/mulch.  The carbon/nitrogen ratio would be too
high and create more problems than you would solve until it had time to
break down.

Horse/cow manure or poultry litter would be the way to go, or maybe,
half-rotten old hay.

Don't do anything until you talk to the cooperative extension agent in
your area and get some soil tests done to know what you really have.
The situation may not be as bas as you think.

Al

-----Original Message-----
From: farmall-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:farmall-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of John
Hall
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 4:35 PM
To: Farmall/IHC mailing list
Subject: Re: [Farmall] O/T...."what can I grow"?

Try adding organic matter back. Any horsefarms nearby that could bring a
few 
loads of shavings/manure? You may have to issues if you get too much 
ammonia. How about a few loads of ground up tree trimmings from the
power 
line crews? Any hay farmers with round bales been sitting around for 2
or 3 
years outdoors?
Just some thoughts.

John

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Moran" <jrmoraninc at yahoo.com>
To: "Farmall/IHC mailing list" <farmall at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 8:32 AM
Subject: Re: [Farmall] O/T...."what can I grow"?


> As nearly as I can tell, many years ago, a portion of the field
between 
> the street and where my house sits (about 1/3 of five acres or so) was

> "box scraped" to gather fill for another part of the property.  This 
> activity denuded the patch of the topsoil....the unaffected area is
really 
> quite "rich" and grass grows profusely.  Sadly, the scraping was
executed 
> in what might be called the "middle" of this field, leaving behind
stones 
> of various sizes and a clay-ish subsoil.  Over time, I have unearthed
a 
> lot of the rocks (more to go, naturally) but, due to the poor
condition of 
> the dirt, the grass/weeds and such refuse to take hold and fill in.  I
am 
> not chasing down "commerce", here.  I was thinking, however, that
maybe I 
> could get some success (and a bit of a different appearance) by doing 
> some more clearing and tilling of the "affected" area.  I have noticed

> that wild onions seem to do well around my property and my thinking
went 
> to other "bulb" plants (e.g., garlic,
> scallions, horseradish, etc.).  Alternatively, maybe cultivating the
soil, 
> cutting the area with something such as peat moss and randomly
strewing 
> wild flower seeds would result in a nice look, breaking up the
monotony of 
> just green grass. Hey...just some random thoughts and, on the plus
side, 
> it would provide with another justification to spending more time up
on a 
> tractor. ;-)
> Thanks for your suggestions.
> Jim
>
> John Hall <jthall at worldnet.att.net> wrote: Talk to your local FSA and
get 
> some ideas of crops. Send off a bunch of soil
> samples (its free in NC) to see just how poor the soil really is--make
a 
> map
> of the farm when you do this as your results may require
micro-managing to
> get the farm uniform. When you send in the samples, indicate what you 
> would
> like to grow and they can let you know how much the "correction"
amounts 
> of
> fertilizer and lime (if used in your area) would be.
>
> A lot of small acreages do big business on vegetable crops and 
> ornamentals.
> One thing that is labor intensive and requires a good location (near 
> larger
> poplations) is a corn maze.
>
> John
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "James Moran"
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 5:59 PM
> Subject: [Farmall] O/T...."what can I grow"?
>
>
>> Without doubt, some of you folks are farmers.  I am in upstate New
York
>> and portions of my residential property (25 acres or so, total) are
of
>> poor, clay-like make up.  Some areas will not even support grass.
Could 
>> I
>> cultivate and, then, successfully grow garlic or horseradish or 
>> SOMETHING?
>> What can any of you advise?
>> Thanks.
>> Jim
>>
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