In the last several weeks we’ve bought 2 truckloads of compost for our main spring/summer garden. This year was the first attempt to grow on this 1 acre plot. We realized the top soil was thin in many areas which led to less healthy plants and a diminished harvest. So we’re adding a lot of compost while waiting on fall rains. As rain finally entered the forecast last week, we quickly sowed a cover crop of winter peas and oats into the spread compost.
Composted turkey litter ready to dump
All 70 cubic yards ready for spreading
After spreading the turkey litter compost, the mushroom company called to say their truck was finally repaired. So, figuring a farm can never have too much compost, we ordered a load. In the meantime, the turkey litter compost was spread over our thinnest soil areas.
30 yards of Mushroom Compost
Mushroom compost conveyed out of the trailer by special moving floor mechanism.
All Mushroom Compost out of the trailer and ready to spread on top of the other compost
The mushroom compost was also spread with the tractor, giving us 100 cubic yards of compost over about a third of an acre. We then waited until good rain was in the forecast. That’s the time to sow and till in crops to cover the soil over winter.
Both composts spread with tractor. Still somewhat uneven but lightly tilling in the cover crop seed should make it right
Winter Peas and Oats tilled in on a gray cloudy day as rain nears
We were blessed with 9 inches of rain a couple days after tilling in the cover crop. So we hope to have a thick cover of oats and peas over the winter and early spring. We’ll till that in before we begin early spring planting in February. Now we’re feverishly finishing the high fence around this acre so that the sprouting oats are peas are not devoured by deer.