Video: Vegetable Farmers and their Innovative Cover Cropping Techniques

Introduction

Ten farmers from five Northeastern states describe their innovations in cover cropping, including over-seeding, living mulches, summer cover crops, and cover crops for pest suppression.

Contents (links to video clips and audio text)

Hank Bissell, Lewis Creek Farm. Starksboro, VT.

• Winter Cover Crop - Hairy Vetch and Rye
• Winter Cover Crop - Hairy Vetch and Oats
• Inter-seeding Rye in Fall

Will Stevens, Golden Russett Farm. Shoreham, VT.

• Winter Cover Crop - Wheat
• Frost Seeded Red Clover
• Summer Seeded Hairy Vetch

Cliff Hatch, Upinngill Farm. Gill, MA.

• Winter Rye for Strawberry Mulch
• Delayed Berry Planting after Rye Harvest

Eero Ruuttila, Nesenkeag Farm. Litchfield, NH.

• Spring Cover Crop: Field Pea and Oats
• Hairy Vetch and Rye Strips Between Crops
• Cover Crops to Suppress Potato Beetles
• Soil Spader for Incorporating Cover Crops

Lou Johns and Robin Ostfeld, Blue Heron Farm. Lodi, NY.

• Permanent Ground Cover for Wheel Tracks
• Drilled Field Peas and Broadcast Oats
• Mowing Hairy Vetch and Rye

Lou Lego, Elderberry Pond. Auburn, NY.

• Living Mulch: Cover Crops Between Plastic

Lockwood 'Pooh' Sprague, Edgewater Farm. Plainfield, NH.

• Summer Cover Crop: Buckwheat
• Summer Cover Crop: Japanese Millet

Bob Muth, Muth Farms. Williamstown, NJ.

• Long-term Rotation with Cover Crops
• Summer Cover Crop: Sudex
• Leaf Mulching and Cover Crops

Eileen Droescher, Ol' Turtle Farm. Easthampton, MA.

• Permanent Beds and Cover Crop Rotation
• Sudex Undersown with Red Clover