Rye

Ken out standing in his field - hip high rye

Ken frequently plants rye as a cover crop and green manure.  Rye over winters and comes up from its roots in spring.  Covering the soil in winter prevents erosion. Rye's  deep roots break up hard pan and add organic matter to the soil.  The green grass can be tilled into the soil, fed to animals, or used as mulch. 

Ken is the tiny spot in center of photo

Many people avoid planting rye because unlike peas, oats, buckwheat and many other cover crops, rye does not winter kill.  That means a few more steps are required in preparing a bed for crops. Ken mows and then tills the rye and waits between these steps.

Beds have been mowed; other rye is left to grow

Here is a photo of the mowed rye.

Tilled beds will be allowed to rest before planting

And here is the tilled rye.  Ken will plant these beds with crops like winter squash.

Rye by the mobile tunnel

Years ago we participated in a three year study with the Center for Integrated Agriculture in Madison.  During a farm visit from the leader of the study, we were told our farm had virtually no exposed soil.  This is one of Ken's goals - to have crops, cover crops and green manures everywhere so the soil is temperate and there is optimal microbial life.