Above is a recent picture from one of our collard fields. Do you see what's growing between the collards? Those aren't weeds! The little plants between the collards (and we do this with other crops as well) are the beginning of our mighty winter cover crop. It's a mix of rye, hairy vetch and crimson clover and it will continue to grow throughout the fall providing a lush cover, protecting the soil from harsh winds and eroding/compacting rains. In addition to this protection, the roots of these plants will loosen compacted soil, mine for deep nutrients, clear new paths for earthworms and help boost soil microorganism activity. Then in the spring the legumes (hairy vetch and crimson clover) will take nitrogen from the air and transform it into a plant-available form. Meanwhile, the rye starts growing quickly providing organic matter, and the clover makes a great flower that beneficial insects love. When we're ready to plant vegetables, let's say tomatoes, we incorporate this great cover crop into the soil. The new nitrogen is released for the tomato plants, the soil organisms feed on the organic matter, and the rye releases chemicals which inhibit the germination of weed seeds. Amazing!
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