Post date: Jul 12, 2012 4:35:21 PM
Within the past few weeks at the farm we've discussed many aspects of "old school" farming. Many industrial farms are monocultures, they only grow one variety with the occasional crop rotation. However in the Stanford Community farm, not only do we have vegetables and fruits, our chickens play a large part in keeping our farm healthy and ready for farming.
Weed. For some it is a hallucinogenic in the middle of political controversy, for others it's a TV drama. At the Stanford community farm it's bindweed, Bermuda grass, and mint. With most weeds, these plants take up nutrients and space that our crops need to grow. The challenge with these weeds is that they all have a complex root system that have the ability to regenerate even after the plant itself has been separated from the roots. Bindweed have small thin roots that shoot straight down. Causing the deeper section of the roots to separate from the plant during the de-weeding process, allowing for re-growth later on. Bermuda grass has one central root system; however the plant is a low growing plant and where ever the stems touch soil new roots can grow. This advantageous characteristic allows for the plant to cover large plots of land while wasting no energy reaching as far down as its other counterparts. And finally mint, this fragrant herb to many chefs, is pinnacle in their cooking, however for farmers this invasive plant takes up pathways and grows in the every corner of the garden.
With the large amount of food we do grow, soil care is very important for the plants now and to keep the plot of land sustainable over time. First, we have to look at texture. In order to allow the plants roots to reach the proper size and depth, the soil can't be too hard or the roots won't reach. But, the soil must also not be too loose or it won't hold water. Secondly, proper soil composition must contain the correct proportions of sand, silt, and clay, each playing their own role. Lastly, we have to check the fertility of the soil. Soil needs to contain three elements: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium. These three might not be the only elements in soil, but the management of them is crucial to the plants survival.
The chickens at the Stanford farm are not only fun, they've also taught us that chickens not only produce delicious eggs but also wonderful soil. The chickens naturally take dirt baths to keep cool and kick up dirt looking for bugs, this in turn aerates the soil making it light and almost fluffy. The chicken droppings also help fertilize the soil. Both of these traits have led us to investigating the possibility of getting more chickens, maybe even triple digits when we have completed the new farm.