Re: Spring news

[The Korrows]

Title: Re: Spring news

Hi Jane,   For a ground cover Chris suggests Strawberry clover, or New Zealand white clover. Add some calcium or rock phosphate since the clovers will really thrive in this. Plus violets might indicate some soil acidity.   I will try to keep up with the planting calendar. Its something I've always wanted to do, but could never find the time. Chris and I have gone through a big transition this year, where we are not going to try to generate any farm income this year. For the first time in 14 years. The last 12 years we have lived off of 90% farm income. I am working for LILIPOH now, and then Chris has his free lance film projects that he is in the beginning stages of developing.   So what's happening is we are growing huge gardens, and instead of putting energy into selling the produce, we are going to do more intensive work with the biodynamic preparations, more seed saving. We also have 3 cows and 10 chicks. So everything is very family scale. Aside from Chris back problems, and the fact that we don't quite have the interest in managing a staff, our latest revelation is that the small percentage of organic farms (8000 certified farms in the US- 90,000 farms in Kentucky alone) is not going to turn around agriculture, its really going to take everyone raising a garden AND buying from the farms. Hugh Lovel said this many years ago to his customers 'Please! Go ahead and put me out of business'. Wendell Berry says 'Farm to the farm'. Our farm is small, and not really set up for off farm production. The productivity is highest when we are producing for ourselves. Does that make sense? So we feel that our energy is going to be best spent nurturing our own family scene, and having more fun with it! For instance I just emailed a few friends to invite them over to make Barrel Compost.   Best regards, Christy   ----- Original Message ----- From: Jane Sherry To: Bdnow Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2003 6:33 AM Subject: Re: Spring news Thanks for posting this Christy! I went to your site to see what’s growing already and got a bit jealous, as I look out over our thick ice & snow cover. My winter frame weeks ago covered in ice & snow crushed a bit under the weight and I wonder whether anything still grows under there. I hope you’ll keep us updated at your site.   The birds have been busy for weeks now, singing away, in spite of the continuous winter storms we keep getting here in the NE of the US. Our drought has certainly ended! I dream of eating wild spring greens soon and of digging and composting my expanded garden. Do you have any recommendations for good ground cover that would have several functions: low to the ground so it can be walked on, nutritious for land that had grass and violet cover, easy to turn under if I want to later, maybe even fragrant? I was thinking of using roman chamomile (chamaemelum nobile). Blessings, Jane From: "The Korrows" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thank you to the many who have given generous financial support to assist our efforts. As always, grow a garden and support your local farmer!   Christy Korrow Rural Center for Responsible Living Social renewal through sustainable agriculture 2000 Bullridge Road Burkesville, KY 42717 270-864-4167 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.theruralcenter.org <http://www.theruralcenter.org>