Last spring, after much research into green manure, my husband and I decided that we would give buckwheat a try. Our original garden plot was seven years old. We thought it would be a good time to give it a rest and use the buckwheat as a cover crop, as well as one that would be used as a green manure. This was going to be a boost to the soil as well as a deterrent to the weeds that have no problem growing in my garden, no matter what is going on with the soil.
*DISCLAIMER: WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING (BUT WE THOUGHT WE DID)!*
Disclaimer having thus been issued, I can fill you in on the details.
The buckwheat was easily procured at our wonderful local feed mill, Bowser's. It was then hand broadcast onto our tilled garden. It grew into a lovely plot of buckwheat. The local bee population seemed to enjoy it as well. A huge plus, I think. Here's where things went awry, in my humble opinion. From what I understood, the buckwheat should be tilled under before it flowers and goes to seed. OR, it can be left and the first frost would kill it and then it can be left to rot and then tilled into the ground. I thought the first option sounded more "green". I was going with that. It seemed a happy thought. When the buckwheat began to look like it was going to flower, the guy who runs the tractor and hooks up the equipment on this little corner of the world was informed of said event and that the plot needed to be tilled very soon. I even offered to run the tractor, if he would connect the tiller. The offer of me running any type of equipment usually speeds up any process for fear that I might actually do it. When he sees me with a hammer, well, you get the picture, I think. But, this time it didn't work. It seems he didn't really believe I would even attempt to connect the tiller, let alone run it in the garden. The buckwheat bloomed. After much wringing of hands, on my part, the plot was mowed. I thought, then, that it would be tilled. At this point, the big guy had so many irons in the fire that there was no hope of getting the tiller on the tractor. It wasn't long before a second crop of buckwheat emerged just as lovely as the first, albeit, unwanted. This second crop was then mowed. Yet, again, another crop was beginning to show it's strong and sturdy self. At least the frost saved us from another round. Fast forward to the spring. The garden was tilled. Crops were planted. And, yes, you guessed it, there is buckwheat sprouting in the garden. Thankfully just a few plants here and there that are easily dispatched and used as green manure, manually.
All this being said, I am certain that there are plenty of folks who have had great success with green manures and are seasoned veterans at this craft. It seems as if the use an old Presbyterian motto might work here, "But, we've never done it that way before." You can teach an old dog new tricks, I think, just not these old dogs.
I have no idea if our soil has profited from our experiment with buckwheat. I really don't know if we will ever try it again. (My boss says, "NO".) I still have weeds, though. But, I think that's just life with a garden. Or, maybe it's just life.
To read what real experts say about green manure, you can check out Gardening When it Counts, Growing Food in Hard Times, by Steve Solomon. Or, online here.
.
P.S. My camera was accidentally left at our daughter's in Minnesota. It is being returned when they come for a visit the end of June. I miss it.
My sweet ride, Hazel, my John Deere, had to go in for major surgery this spring. She has yet to be repaired. In the meantime, I'm using an old Craftsman, which gets the grass cut with twice the amount of time and effort...the steering is bad. I miss it more than my camera. My arms and shoulders are getting a great workout though.
O LORD,
Whose power is infinite and wisdom infallible,
Order things that they may neither hinder, nor discourage me...
Permit me not to labour at work which thou wilt not bless,
that I may serve thee without disgrace or debt;
Let me dwell in thy most secret place under thy shadow,
where is safe impenetrable protection from
the arrow that flieth by day,
the pestilence that walketh in darkness,
the strife of tongues,...
the perils of youth,
the temptations of middle life,
the mournings of old age,
the fear of death.
I am entirely dependent upon thee for support, counsel, consolation.
Strengthen me by thy Spirit in my inner self
for every purpose of my Christian life.
--selections from Refuge, from A Valley of Vision
