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A Cost Factor June 20, 2010
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It was the Bermuda grass, again.

I wanted to reclaim an old French sorrel bed, that one next to the wild fennel, which I keep for the black/yellow swallowtail butterfly. Flanked by giant pecan trees to the immediate west side, the little space of land would be perfect for more blackberries.

But first I needed to discourage the Bermuda grass, which had ended the sorrel’s reign, as well as add some good organic matter to the soil.

So, as a conscientious certified organic farmer (since 1991), I planted a cover crop of Sudan grass early this spring. The crop grew wonderfully -- aided by the last rains of the rainiest winter in years -- ending its saga with bountiful seed heads. Larry warned me about letting the grass get so tall (five feet or so), but I wanted to provide a light-denying shade over the still persistent Bermuda grass, so I let it continue to live a full life.


Finally the grass grew tired of standing so upright, and I hastened its final moments by mowing it down. The roots of the plants, full of minerals and sheathed in carbon, would decompose, adding a miracle to the soil. I felt good. I would have felt better had I a decent bush hog mower, but I don’t, so the “Lil Tractor” (entire name: Lillian T. Tractor) with its “belly mower” (don’t you like that term?) had to do the job. (Can’t you imagine that belly mowers on people and animals of a certain age or condition could get a lot of yard work done? All that’s needed would be blades and the ability to low-crawl.)

Over the next two weeks, as the mowed cover crop mellowed, I accomplished two tasks. I sowed a new cover crop over it, using a summer variety, sorghum milo. Sorghum will germinate on humidity, and since we’ve had plenty of that, the germination was good. I will mow that crop down before fall, and then plant blackberry crowns.

My second task with Lil was to mow the grassy areas of the farm; there are a lot of those. And I finished just in time for the Slow Food happy hour and our Tomato Fest. At the end of the mowing session, a connecting piece of metal that raises the belly mower up and down fell off. So I parked Lil and waited for Larry to come home from the other farm.

My greatest deficiencies as a farmer are not being able to change implements on the tractors nor fix the tractors. I’m not too regretful of that lack of knowledge and expertise, as it is a talent that also requires strength, manly strength. I’m just not man enough to do it, and don’t particularly relish the idea of having nubs for fingers  --  like Toesy my little pet hen, with her toe nubs (not the result of fixing any tractors.) But in addition to farming, I do laundry, payroll and taxes, cook supper, and clean the farm house, so I feel certain that all is equal between me and Larry.

And so far, thank goodness, he has all of his digits.

This morning in the shade of the blooming crape myrtle trees, Larry discovered another problem with the belly mower. The power shaft had, wrapped around it, a wad of my esteemed Sudan grass cover crop. Oh my. The grass had invaded the wire holding the plastic collar in place and by my subsequent mowing (“no good deed....”), the plastic was, as Larry would say, “all et up.”  In English, that is “destroyed.”


Sigh. He used his Swiss army knife, that our son Steve brought back from Germany decades ago -- the beer opener part actually -- to carve off the ruined (melted/hardened) plastic. I helped by holding out my hand for the refuse and warning him to be careful of the beer opener as it kept aiming secondarily at his thumb. Two close calls followed my warning. Larry succeeded in the task grandly, since no nubs resulted and the shaft is now clean and ready for the new part.

As he worked and as he topped off the plastic shreds and grass with the chrome collar itself (also ruined), we discussed the price of the new part. $160. And it fits in my hand like a young chick. He said, well this wouldn’t be so bad, except that we had to replace one six months ago. News to me. Sometimes he hides bad news from me so I won’t be depressed. We didn’t discuss my fault in that occasion, but as the main tractor driver here, I had to assume the blame. I was a bit depressed, but I am over it.

That potential total price for an organic-driven cover crop (the seed was relatively cheap) is one reason why organic produce is expensive. And why produce sold right off the farm might be considered expensive also. We do not use chemical herbicides to clear land from Bermuda grass, we strive to increase life in the soil, we must keep the weeds mowed so we don’t lose folks in them, and to provide a visually soothing visit to the farm.

I think it is worth it. Especially if we get to keep our fingers.

Carol Ann

For the complete produce report: http://www.boggycreekfarm.com/ (Hint: Watermelons & Tropical Melons & Gause Yaupon Honey.)

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