SnowFire Hollow Orchard
  • Home
  • The Etcetera
  • Store
  • Orchard Journal
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Leila Belle Organic Skin Care
    • Photo Log >
      • Common Ground Fair
      • The Orchard
      • Events

TOIL, SOIL AND SEEDS

4/24/2016

1 Comment

 

Early Spring; This time of year the nights are cool, and the days are too, although beautiful warmth blanketed us when the overcast clouds parted for the elderberry "living mulch" planting.

We have struggled to keep the quackgrass and other assorted weeds from taking up residence in the rows.  Prior to now, we have used other sources of weed barrier/mulch and organic matter.  The most organic and relatively successful mulch we have used is our burlap coffee bags.  They have worked tirelessly to help keep moisture in,  and a good deal of the unwanted infiltrations, out.  

However, after careful thought and research by H, this year we are opting for a cover crop or two to help out weeds out, retain moisture, build the soil and provide precious nitrogen for the elders. This cover crop, rather than some which are sown in the fall, and tilled in come spring, is planted now, and allowed to grow along with the crop, mowing as needed.  These nitrogen fixing plants are red clover and rye grass. The hope is that these will produce the nitrogen the elders need and crowd out the invasion of the nitrogen-stealers. 

​Finally, invoking the power of positive thinking, the intention is  for a larger elderberry crop this year, thanks to the early infusion of nitrogen, the elders' will leaves will be set to convert the sunlight to chlorophyll and help produce an abundance, of cascading sprays of tiny white flowers, known as "umbels".   These hundreds of flowers will then wisp away, allowing the berries to develop in their place into gorgeous,  pendulous purple-black passels of berries as the season progresses.


​

New Elder stalks shooting up, clover is growing!
Mother Adams variety, with leaves sprouting, and shoots at the base. Clover is beginning to show.
A row, completely seeded and germinating.
A naked elderberry row, sans burlap mulch, waiting for clover and rye sowing.
1 Comment
Daniel Smith DVM link
10/8/2022 12:50:25 am

Return security beautiful public require. Society born eat appear attorney perhaps. Would fill able compare world than some.
Business manager help travel hot. Generation term dog final knowledge.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2018
    March 2018
    September 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    September 2013

    Author

    I am T-  the other half -of the dream-wrangler team, in the Orchard adventure.  
    Mother to 3 amazing adult sons, and grandmother to the biggest rays of sunshine in our lives. Our oldest grand-daughter, we used to call "Little A", but now she is medium to tall-sized.  She is "Miss A" now. The last couple of  years she has greeted a brother, "Little R" , and this past fall, "Little Miss I" and another mister, who will be known as "Little K", arriving any day now!

    Then there's H.- I'll let him elaborate at some point,  but in my opinion, he's the best seaweed wrangler west of the Atlantic. He remains our artist. in residence, and contines to astound T with his penchant for unusual garden-type installations.  He lives to dance a jig with his grand kids, and teach them all about gardens, growing and such. 



    Categories

    All
    Elderberry
    Elderberry Syrup
    Harvest
    Orchard

    RSS Feed

© SnowFire Hollow Orchard 2014. All Rights Reserved.