What keeps us going when we’re exhausted, short on cash and time, encouraged to make a killing when it’s hard to make a living and a supposedly easier option presents itself? I’m grateful for how-tos on building soil fertility, designing water systems and articulating crop production goals, but what about steps for cultivating affection? How do farmers sustain our spirits?
Weeds happen. That is a fact of life for organic farmers, and therefore many of our field operations are designed to make sure that the health and quality of our crops are not jeopardized by the inevitable weed pressure.
Weeds seem to have a pecking order. Once the conditions that permit foxtail and fall panicum are erased, there will be other weeds, but none of them will be as difficult to control or as hazardous to crop production.
The rakes use stiff spring steel wires that radiate out in a fan-like manner. Looking at the shape of the broom, many people think that vegetables will be uprooted in addition to weeds. Widen the space between the steel wires on one of the rakes and try hawking an appropriately sized vegetable.
Weed control through mulching makes sense for many growers, but there are often questions about sourcing, safety and sustainability.
Flame weeding is done by generating intense heat through a chosen device — whether it is a handheld torch or tractor-mounted — that sears the leaves of the weeds, which causes the cell sap to expand, thusly damaging the cell walls.
