O TYM ODCINKU
A covercrop-and-tillage technique from Germany is catching interest for its ability to build organic matter, improve tilth, and raise fertility, all in a single pass. In this episode, Sam Oschwald Tilton of OATS talks with Tenzin Botsford of Red Door Family Farm in Athens, WI, about "surface fermentation" (Flächenrotte): growing dense covercrops, spraying them with a microbial inoculant, and incorporating them with shallow (2") tillage that preserves roots for future microbial activity.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
- Foundational book on surface fermentation: Regenerative Landwirtschaft by Dietmar Näser (published in German; a few English copies exist but none are currently for sale)
- John Kempf podcast interviewing Dutch farmer Erwin Westers on surface composting: https://advancingecoag.com/podcast/episode-158-reducing-weeds-and-pests-with-regenerative-mulching-systems-with-erwin-westers/
- Video of Erwin Westers explaining his practices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZqCiL2RiuI&t=104s
- Another interview with Erwin Westers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNt9XuRQ74k
- Book on brewing fertilizer from plants: The Regenerative Grower's Guide to Garden Amendments by Nigel Palmer: https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/the-regenerative-growers-guide-to-garden-amendments/
- More from Nigel Palmer: https://www.nigel-palmer.com/book
- Research paper on the (lack of) impact of spraying inoculant before cover crop incorporation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379928467_No_effect_on_biological_or_chemical_soil_properties_when_amended_with_effective_microorganisms_for_improved_cover_crop_decomposition
This event is supported through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).
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