Fall at Beardsley

Each year it feels as though the fall season comes later and later, but it has finally arrived in Knoxville, TN. Now, we are able to start some of the many projects that have been awaiting our attention. The annual fence clearing is nearly halfway completed, and we have begun stocking up on our soil amendments.

This is a before and after shot of the fence behind the greenhouse, which was covered in a Vitis spp. known as wild grapevine. After a few days of cutting and digging we were able to clear the area in order to store our tomato cages. We have continued to clear the fence in other areas, but this appeared to be the worst.

This is just one pile of many to come from a local horse farm. The horse manure is seasoned with wood chips and we use this to add nutrients back into the soil. Shortly after we dress our beds with horse manure, we plant our cover crop of winter rye grass. The rye grass helps to break down the wood chips throughout the winter season. Prior to next years planting, we will chop down the rye grass and work it into the soil. This biomass breaks down adding more nutrients into the soil. The winter cover crop is referred to as a green manure.

We have also begun collecting seed from the butterfly garden in Malcom-Martin Park located behind Beardsley Community Farm. We will be stratifying these seeds to fill in empty spots in the butterfly garden. This basically means we are manually collecting dry seed, then placing them in a bag of soil and leaving them outside to experience the winter temperatures. This will allow us to take the seed out of the bag and start them in the greenhouse. By doing this we are able to decide the location for the plants next spring.

Also, the farm team heard an interesting interview with Michael Pollan on NPR October 20, 2008. To view Michael Pollan’s New York Times letter to the President-elect click here

Have a great week ~ Jeff

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