Greetings from a blossoming California,
With the vernal equinox around the corner spring has already sprung it’s growth and beauty on the West Coast. This is the time of year where we see all kinds of different vegetation management techniques been implemented.
The sounds of mowers and wood chippers can be heard everyday. The frolicking and munching of cattle as they enter fresh pasture can be witnessed across the rural lands.
Unfortunately the scarred sites of herbicide application are seen rampant this time of year throughout the Vineyards and Christmas tree farms.
Most of the time when land stewards are mowing and managing vegetation it is to keep opportunistic or “invasive” plants from over taking their landscapes.
Another great way to look at this is to see this springing vegetative growth as an opportunity to build soil, harvest organic matter, and engage in what I like to call the “nutrient pump“ cycle.
In this video I will explain what I mean by “nutrient pumps” and how I use them to build soil and plant nutrients into the ground multiple times throughout the spring time. The scale I’m talking about today is in intensive gardens, homesteads, and landscapes.
Hope this is valuable information for you. Leave us a comment and share the video if you feel so moved.
Happy spring,
Erik Ohlsen
Please share your comments/thoughts below, I’d love to hear from you.
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great information. thanks!
Thank you!
Curious how you handle the “weeds” that grow right up against the base of the young fruit trees. I heard you say not to mulch up against the trunk. So around the trunk of tree or base of plants, do you chop the weeds down and let them regrow or do you pull the weeds right around the base to avoid root competition? I love your concept of nutrient pump but also want to prevent weeds from choking out desired perennials or hardy annuals this time of year. Thanks!
Lauren, great question.Yes, absolutely you want to pull the “weeds” out by the roots around the trunk of your trees and when they are too close to the base of your perennials.
I love the idea that the problem can be the solution. The front yard of my new house in Boulder CO is covered in gravel (desert style xeriscaping, totally inappropriate). Can you think of a good use for gravel? The property is small and we don’t need it for hardscaping (driveway is paved, etc.).
We reuse gravel for greywater systems, rain gardens, drainage ditches, french drains, and of course hardscaping. Have a need for any of those (except the hardscape of course).
Thank you Erik! It is great that you give us all this free information. I am having Emily Mallard draw a design for my yard in Mill Valley and plan to use your contractors to implement the work.
Diane, That is fabulous. We are excited to work with you!
Hi Erik.
Thanks so much for your nutrient pump video. I have a wonderful little Japanese sickle I’ve little used and a tiny garden that my wife thinks is “overgrown” with clover. Now I know what to do to please me, an aspiring Permaculturist, and to please her.
Love to you and yours!
OOOH, the Japanese tools are the best!Love to you and yours too!
BTW, I assume the sign of maximum nitrogen concentration in the plant is the same for my clover as for your facade beans – – the flowers blossoming. Correct?
Yes, it’s the same. It’s all about cutting them back once they flower for maximum Nitrogen.
Looking good man! thanks for the quick tips!
Thanks!
Great helpful information. Thank you very much for sharing! Happy Spring time!!
My Pleasure, Happy Spring!
I’m so glad that many people are getting to see your post, Erik! I go crazy when I see people indiscriminately dumping all their weeds in the green waste can and then going out and buying compost. Although I do send pull the weedy grasses, because once the soil dries, it is almost impossible to get rid of them…or do you have a suggestion for that? By the way, we implemented some of your suggestions from our consultation years ago, so if you are ever in Petaluma, please stop by if you have time to take a look.
Cool video. One advantage to building a compost pile with the cut material is that there is minimal loss of nitrogen content. If it’s laid down as mulch, the nitrogen in the stalk and leaves evaporates as the plant dries out. All depends on the situation, I suppose. Thanks for all you do Erik!
Perfect! I will get right on it. We stopped having chickens because of those dear rat friends. Our mini orchard is rather barren. Trying to open our eyes to possibilities. We put a yurt over our pool to create more living space in our yard. I need to get back to my permaculture life. I can atleast do this in my front yard…Thank you so much!
Great idea – we try to keep as much yard “waste” on our yard, in one form or another – always wondered how to use a sickle! Thanks for the tutorial 🙂
Hi Erik, thanks for you video. Do native plants like manzanita, coyote bush, and ceanothus like having more organic matter in the soil? Would you recommend cutting back the grasses underneath them and mulching right there? we planted the bushes about 2 years ago. Thanks!