Ways of mulching end of season biomass, Chop and drop?

Growing out beds at the end of the spring season provides biomass that can feed the soil. Whether you chop and drop, mow, or flail, this carbon feeds microbes. Here in the demonstration garden, Scott Vernon is mowing the bottom terraces with a bush hog.

Scott Vernon is the founder of the Sustainable Homestead Institute, which teachers sustainable development, ecological design, and natural reliance. Learn more at http://www.sustainablehomestead.com/

For two days, we used a scythe, a flail mower on a BCS tractor, and this bush hog to clear overgrown beds from the spring season. This left inches of organic matter as a surface residue for beds. It's part of our series on permanent raised beds.

Crop residue will receive shallow tillage before planting fall cover crops, greens, and daikon radish. Level terraces maximize water soakage while reducing erosion. Using natural vegetative strips to separate terraces helps eliminate nutrient runoff.

Here's a POV of the BCS 739 with a 30" flail mower chopping corn, https://youtu.be/M8SsbWl-cxI

You may be wondering if permaculture chop and drop really works, https://youtu.be/4SOkILbvonI

Mowing, mulching, or layering grass growing post-season adds carbon to the soil. You don't need to till these materials or incorporate them into the soil. In a temperate climate, you'll get the best results mowing, top dressing with manure, then using shallow tillage to shape beds.

When earth works are necessary, perform these modifications after cutting grass. Large earthworks will start by removing topsoil, but you can simply turn soil down the slope for bed preparation. Wide-level beds are easier to manage.

Do you have an acre or so to dedicate to gardens? Discover useful methods for gardening on slopes, large garden design, and holistic land management in this unique newsletter, https://www.prosperityhomestead.org/newsletter/