.JPG)
Spot the edibles!
I have been interested in the Fukuoka approach of 'natural farming' since harvesting a bumper crop of delicious carrots hidden in the grasses as a wwoofer at the beautiful Borgo Floreani in Friuli, Italy. However never got it to work on purpose...
Imagine my joy / horror when I returned to the farm after a month to find that nature has had its wonderful / wicked way with my 'experimental' garden plot! The gooseberries and blackcurrants were being eaten up by the surrounding meadows and elbow high thistles, wildflowers and couch grasses had taken ahold across the whole area. I figured it would only be a matter of time before the mildew set in, so knocked back the 'plants in the wrong place'..
To my surprise I found that the fruit bushes were really lush, pest free and fruiting really well. In the grasses were the fattest leeks and healthy looking beans! And the comfrey has really come into its own since last time I saw it! Imagine! The garden was also full of bees and alive with flowers and a rich diversity of plants (admittedly I had sown phacelia, red clover and mustard as green manures and to try to supress the weeds).
On the otherhand...the wild strawberries have disappeared and the rhubarb is looking a bit sorry for itself.
I think I still have a bit of a battle on my hands to stop these plants in the wrong place taking over.. especially against the couch grass which has an evil pernicious root!
So despite all these wonderful discoveries and the joy of finding vegetables in among the weeds. I also need to admit that I just planted my squash plants into a black plastic mulch for fear of the weeds taking over while I am away adventuring! This nomadic farming business is hard work!
No comments:
Post a Comment