An overgrown acre

rightee · Post by **rightee** » 04 Sep 2012, 11:47

Hi,

We've been offered an acre of land to grow on. Before the death of the owner a year ago it was cultivated organically and was really well looked after (so has a decade of muck etc on)

However it is really overgrown now but you can see the remains of what was (leeks going to seed etc). Weeds mainly rosebay willow, thistle.

We've been offered the chance of cultivating for a barter rent of fruit/vegetables.

Just wondering best way of proceeding, I reckon cut back all the weeds and cover for the winter perhaps, then maybe just cultivate part of it next year, perhaps growing squashes etc out of the black plastic

Shame they won't sell it but we will have some sort of contract so hopefully they won't just take it over once we've put all the hard work in!!......

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 04 Sep 2012, 11:55

Start a compost heap. Chop the bigger weeds, cover the land in old carpet, black plastic etc, sit back and plan.

Lucky you!

rightee · Post by **rightee** » 04 Sep 2012, 11:58

Yes we're pretty excited, been looking for land for a while, although we won't own it, we know the people who own it now (it's part of 30 acres) won't mess us around.... who knows they may sell in the future.

Keeping fingers crossed we can make use of the caravan that is there too as it's a couple of miles from house (but really hidden away)

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 04 Sep 2012, 11:59

Different people have such different approaches.

I would not use black plastic but would just cultivate the areas I needed to. All weeds are capturing carbon whilst growing and improving the fertility of the soil as they rot. In between they provide food for the insects that are so vital to everything.

So, just create deep beds by turning the topsoil and weeds over and adding the soil from the paths between onto the beds. Enjoy the wildflowers on the rest of the plot.

It helps a great deal if you get to know the names of all those wild plants. It's much harder to smother with plastic and kill a living organism when you know it's name and something of its life-history.

And it looks prettier.

Here is a picture from my garden:

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 04 Sep 2012, 12:29

Looks nice and what I'd prefer any day.

Trouble is, left alone, most land will get choked with nettles and brambles and extremely tough grass, rather than what you've encouraged over the years Biff. Still, good example of what can be done.

extractorfan · Post by **extractorfan** » 04 Sep 2012, 12:32

looks lovely, wish I was there now instead of sitting in a hot office in the middle of an industrial estate!

rightee · Post by **rightee** » 04 Sep 2012, 12:32

I like it Biff and it's definitely something to aim for. Problem is getting it to that state when it's full of creeping buttercup, brambles, docks etc.

I'm not really up for black plasticing the whole plot so may try some different approaches....

Post by **adam2** » 04 Sep 2012, 13:47

If you want to clear the land without rotovating, can you borrow a pig ? or two.
These animals are excellent at clearing land and of course the dung is good fertiliser.
If anyone nearby keeps pigs, it could be worth asking.

Post by **clv101** » 04 Sep 2012, 13:52

adam2 wrote:If you want to clear the land without rotovating, can you borrow a pig ? or two.
These animals are excellent at clearing land and of course the dung is good fertiliser.
If anyone nearby keeps pigs, it could be worth asking.

This is a good point - I recently saw a quarter of an acre that had been totally cleared by two pigs in just a few months. The land owner was planning to grow on the land as soon as the pigs had gone.

Blue Peter · Post by **Blue Peter** » 04 Sep 2012, 14:04

clv101 wrote:
adam2 wrote:If you want to clear the land without rotovating, can you borrow a pig ? or two.
These animals are excellent at clearing land and of course the dung is good fertiliser.
If anyone nearby keeps pigs, it could be worth asking.
This is a good point - I recently saw a quarter of an acre that had been totally cleared by two pigs in just a few months. The land owner was planning to grow on the land as soon as the pigs had gone.

I've always wondered about this - despite clearing the land, wouldn't they tend to compact the soil?

Peter.

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » 04 Sep 2012, 15:11

biffvernon wrote:hHere is a picture from my garden:

Looks like a bee oasis

Kentucky Fried Panda · Post by **Kentucky Fried Panda** » 04 Sep 2012, 15:12

clv101 wrote:The land owner was planning to grow on the land as soon as the pigs had gone.

Sausages?

Post by **adam2** » 04 Sep 2012, 17:07

I dont think that pigs compact the soil, the compacting effect of the pigs feet being counteracted by the tendency to dig and root around which loosens the soil.

Pigs are social animals and some people consider it cruel to keep only one, though so doing was formerly very common.

Pigs are intelligent and good at escaping, good electric fencing is advisable, or strong barbed wire.

rightee · Post by **rightee** » 04 Sep 2012, 19:11

Pigs is a good idea, just need a reliable battery/electric fence given we won't be there 24/7. Something to think about for spring anyway....

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 05 Sep 2012, 03:32

Can you mow it before the weeds seed, Rightee? That will make it a bit easier to get it weed free later.