(4) Projects
The Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Demonstration Project (GHGMP)
 | We believe the Organic Farm can play a positive role in the eco-system by using natural, organic materials instead of oil based fertilizers and by introducing plants which build up the nitrogen in the soil and capture carbon dioxide, turning it into oxygen. This process for introducing plants which build up nitrogen in the soil is called, "green manuring," Although green manuring has been taking place in other parts of the world for many years, it is a relatively new concept in Newfoundland. In 2003, we became a host site for a greenhouse gas mitigation demonstration project, which is sponsored in collaboration with the Newfoundland Federation of Agriculture (NLFA). This is one of the several sites funded to call attention to best management practices (BMP) through on-farm activities. The BMP projects are practical on-farm research that will aid producers in determining whether the practices could be used in other farming operations. |
On our farm, oats, buckwheat, clover and a mixture of peas and vetch were planted on a l/2 acre experimental plot and compared to growth and soil development on a control plot which received applications of lime, shrimp meal, compost and peat. The second year,, the experimental plot was planted in strips. The plants were mowed before flowering, weighed and used as mulch on adjacent strips planted in the vegetables/herbs. We compared vegetable production on this ground with that of the control plot, which had organic materials, but not green manure.
What we learned. Even though the green manure crops appeared to be relatively successful in 2003, the humus content and texture of the soil will need to be built up in this manner for a minimum of three growing seasons. We will continue our work with the experimental plot, but will need additional sources of compost for the land to be adequately productive for the 2005 growing season.
Living Mulch. In reading more about green manuring, we became interested in living mulch. Crops such as clover are planted in the vegetable production areas to reduce weeds and enrich the soil. There are many things to learn about this such as when to plant the lettuce and when to plant the clover, etc. This will be a new project for 2005. We will continue to use green manuring to improve the experimental plot and complete the soil analysis to study the effects of green manuring on soil improvement and texture and to maintain the control plot by traditional methods. However, on another area of the farm, outside the demonstration area, we will begin interplant clover, particularly white clover among our vegetable crops.
We are eager to share what we have learned thus far and welcome visitors to the farm and e-mail discussions around Best Management Practices. Even though we expect to increase our production on both the experimental or control plots over successive seasons, our approach to managing the farm is contributing to the over-all mitigation of green house gases, both in practice and in principle.
There are several other projects and farm sites across the island of Newfoundland involved in the demonstration of beneficial management practices. All sites host tours upon request to the NLFA or the demonstrator.
For more information, contact:
NL Federation of Agriculture
308 Brookfield Road, Mt. Pearl, NL.
Telephone: (709) 747-4874
Email: fed.agric@nf.sympatico.ca Website: http://www.nlfa.ca
The O farm is interested in building 'Cord Wood' structures. If you want to help and learn with us you are welcome.
We have plans to eventually build a large barn. Any help in the design would be much appreciated.
We are also planning a Tree farm.