tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970975545475697571.post5887681728216707383..comments2024-03-29T11:09:30.202-04:00Comments on Eaton Rapids Joe: Intensive vs. Extensive agricultureEaton Rapids Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09102166969915526172noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970975545475697571.post-18303103779659992122022-08-22T12:01:50.762-04:002022-08-22T12:01:50.762-04:00This topic is hot on my brain. There is a great de...This topic is hot on my brain. There is a great deal of renewed interest in this high level discussion. With many folks also chewing on the "big change without big starvation" question.<br />I'm still early in the readings but anyone wanting to deep dive should look up Permaculture, Agroforestry, Silvopasturing, Paul Wheaton, Permies.com, Restoration Agriculture.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02517009497663708697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970975545475697571.post-76727367430941097662022-08-22T06:29:16.712-04:002022-08-22T06:29:16.712-04:00When I was in school back in the '50s, our tex...When I was in school back in the '50s, our textbooks were touting conservation practices such as contour plowing to check erosion. The last time I drove through the rolling land of Iowa on I-80, I saw no evidence that anybody was practicing contour plowing. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970975545475697571.post-43637462667540280182022-08-21T14:31:50.585-04:002022-08-21T14:31:50.585-04:00Interested reading, my only comment has to do with...Interested reading, my only comment has to do with row crops in south Alabama. I worked with a farmer that has a degree from Auburn in soil management. He does everything different from the other farmers. He's opinion is that soil has to be living. Not a dead entitysolarmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06003692871460203126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970975545475697571.post-39909753696580553482022-08-21T13:55:32.770-04:002022-08-21T13:55:32.770-04:00I have a small patch for the 5 gallon pail I want ...I have a small patch for the 5 gallon pail I want yearly. Next year I bet that will double+ in size as more for the replacement chicken feeding. A sneaky trick I learned from some Maine Organic folks is MULCH the wheat with shredded leaves.<br /><br />That reduces the "tares" in my little patch. A cordless drill with a threaded rod some nuts and a bit of dog chain inside a 5 gallon bucket makes a nice thresher. A fan makes a nice way to please your chickens to no end while you pour that threshed wheat from one bucket to another.<br /><br />Oh, the chickens also LOVE patrolling my wheat patch from when the wheat gets about a foot high up until the wheat starts heading up. That keeps small green "tares" plucked and the girls LOVE visiting that patch after I harvest.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05329176313885665469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970975545475697571.post-71652710496470410432022-08-21T12:19:24.199-04:002022-08-21T12:19:24.199-04:00Are you growing very much wheat?? I have considere...Are you growing very much wheat?? I have considered growing a small patch mainly for fun. I have a feeling thrashing the grain by hand sounds like workJohn Galthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16708866657173222842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970975545475697571.post-9218412549372561372022-08-21T10:06:51.678-04:002022-08-21T10:06:51.678-04:00Incomplete thought, sorry. Bees, think about that...Incomplete thought, sorry. Bees, think about that. Mass losses from Scotts Yards and other nicotine-based sprays for "pesky bugs".<br /><br />My neighbor even in my quiet area has lost too may beehives due to flatlanders from MA moving up and wanting a "perfect" lawn so he's OUT OF BUSINESS. <br /><br />I've started using carpenter bees and taking the egg tubes inside to survive my harsh NH winters, so I keep pollinators.<br /><br />Almost like someone wants even home gardeners-beekeepers out of business, eh?<br /><br />We are the carbon the World Economic Forum wants reduced.<br /><br />As that meme of the guy at the table "prove me wrong".Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05329176313885665469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970975545475697571.post-30336226487249269502022-08-21T10:01:09.465-04:002022-08-21T10:01:09.465-04:00And to add more toxins into the discussion the che...And to add more toxins into the discussion the chemicals used on that near sterile concrete like "soil" have half Lifes of YEARS.<br /><br />I lost a nice raised bed garden for three years because I was TOLD the bale of straw was local-organic but was from a Big Ag roundup heavy supplier.<br /><br />That roundup killed off my heirlooms for three years even with my efforts to sheet compost to increase biological activity in it. As mentioned by John Gault earthworms almost disappeared.<br /><br />It's been 4 years and my raised bed seems "normal" again. When I weigh my fall production I'll see.<br /><br />What that toxic mess does to humans eating it is to be determined BUT plenty of ambulance chasers are seeking USERS of Roundup and its chemical cousins about various cancers. So as a gentleman farmer and medical sort I have grave concerns.<br /><br />Wheat is a grass, if you can grow a lawn you can grow your own pancake patch. Mine is looking good this weekend.<br /><br />Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05329176313885665469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970975545475697571.post-10143132389308279182022-08-21T09:15:38.736-04:002022-08-21T09:15:38.736-04:00On top of all that in many areas the water is cont...On top of all that in many areas the water is contaminated with PFAS .<br />John Galthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16708866657173222842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2970975545475697571.post-26143652593209512032022-08-21T08:39:53.843-04:002022-08-21T08:39:53.843-04:00Some changes need made in agriculture but how to d... Some changes need made in agriculture but how to do it and not trigger mass starvation is above my pay grade. I do know this: At one time good soil in Iowa was a foot deep. Even as recently as 40 years ago it was often 3-6 inches deep. Now in some places its barely an inch deep. Crop rotation seemed to help a lot. Many don't do that anymore. During the 1930s they learned to plant trees and hedgerows. It prevented dust storms. Now , big agribiz has led to mainly large farms that have torn out the fences and trees etc so they can just use those big machines and go and go. They use lots of fertilizer and no one " Walks Beans" anymore. Its all done with a drip-wick herbicide. Does it matter? Well....when I was kid you saw 100s of night crawlers and after a rain sidewalks were covered with worms. Now...you are lucky to see even a few small worms and even fewer true night crawlers. ( Extra large worms that come out at night if you have never seen one). The ground needs extra prep as it is little better than concrete. ( Worms used to keep the soil loose) Yet, how do you do intensive when the oil stops flowing.John Galthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16708866657173222842noreply@blogger.com