Sitting with a cup of coffee. (coffee lovers)

[perchie.girl]

for what its worth ..... Oyster shell cooked in a fire creates the lime for cement... Thats why cement is 5000 or so years old....

http://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete-history/

Portland Cement was invented in 1824.

Believe it or not I spent quite a bit of time researching it several years ago.

deb

 

[Alaskan]

What does Al do with the clover cover? 

Feed it to chickies they love clover

 

[sourland]

 

[3goodeggs]

Speaking of clover, I want to plant the back field in some clover for the bees, but my husband thinks it will take over,
I do not see a problem with that. Is there a problem with that?

 

[Peep_Show]

Clover is GREAT!

I sometime use it as an overwinter cover crop as it adds nitrogen to the soil.

I like red clover 'cuz it's purty.

 

[Alaskan]

I think some clovers are better than others, and some might be invasive in your area.

Call your local extension office and ask them which clover you should plant.

 

[perchie.girl]

Speaking of clover, I want to plant the back field in some clover for the bees, but my husband thinks it will take over,
I do not see a problem with that. Is there a problem with that?

Clover is GREAT!

I sometime use it as an overwinter cover crop as it adds nitrogen to the soil.

I like red clover 'cuz it's purty.

Alfalfa does the same and is an eggcellent cover crop, Clover is problematic with horses so I always am thinking that way
deb

 

[ronott1]

Alfalfa does the same and is an eggcellent cover crop, Clover is problematic with horses so I always am thinking that way
deb

Chickens love Alfalfa too!

Also Vetch. I used to go out to a field by our orchard and get some for the chickens when I was growing up.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Interesting.... Vetch sparked a memory..... Loco Weed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astragalus


Loco weed may not affect chickens. but because I have it on my property I worry about the other critters.

I am not in Texas but this is what I have on my property



deb

 

[ronott1]

Hairy Vetch is a ground cover crop and is a legume:

Hairy vetch

Hairy vetch PDF file
Hairy vetch is a winter hardy, annual legume. It is one of the best nitrogen-fixers and is reported to be more efficient at nitrogen fixation than peas. This makes it useful in vegetable crop rotations. Since it is slow to establish, it is usually sown with a nurse crop. Once established, it is good at weed suppression and soil conditioning.
Land preparation
Prepare a well-drained seedbed free of weeds and clumps of soil. Hairy vetch performs poorly on compacted soils.
It has high phosphorus and potassium requirements. Test soil for available phosphorus 40 lb/ac and potassium 120 lb/ac.
Hairy vetch will tolerate a wide range of pH.
Seeding rate
Drill 15-20 lb/ac. Drilling is preferred for uniformity.
Broadcast 25-40 lb/ac.
When seeding with a winter rye nurse crop, sow 20-30 lb/ac hairy vetch and 70 lb/ac winter rye.
When seeding with an oats nurse crop in late summer, sow 40 lb/ac vetch and 80 lb/ac oats.