Join John Henry Nelson, permaculturist and co-owner of Stone & Spade, along with Rocco Sinicrope of Living Web Farms, for this workshop focused on the farm’s integrated permaculture and livestock system. We utilize methods to maximize nutrient and water capture that works in synergy with the landscape. Learn how to cycle nutrients and water in a rotational grazing system that includes intensive diverse cover cropping and annual vegetables. In part 2, John starts by introducing ‘IMO’s,’ indigenous micro-organisms, how they are beneficial and how to cultivate them in your garden/farm landscape.
VIDEO: Incorporating Permaculture into Grazing Systems Part 2
Join John Henry Nelson, permaculturist and co-owner of Stone & Spade, along with Rocco Sinicrope of Living Web Farms, for this workshop focused on the farm’s integrated permaculture and livestock system. We utilize methods to maximize nutrient and water capture that works in synergy with the landscape. Learn how to cycle nutrients and water in a rotational grazing system that includes intensive diverse cover cropping and annual vegetables. In part 2, John starts by introducing ‘IMO’s,’ indigenous micro-organisms, how they are beneficial and how to cultivate them in your garden/farm landscape.
What I do is to collect fungi, rotted stump wood, leaf mold and rock dust (especially from mafic and ultramafic and limestone rocks) from the nearby National forest when I hike, hunt or fish there. Then I add that as an inoculate my bark chip pile. I then use this inoculated mulch as the mulch for my orchard trees and as the paths between bed rows in my vegetable garden. That way I get minerals in biologically available form to nourish my plants and ultimately my family. I find this collection process provides a strong incentive for me to get into the forest to exercise and breath the tree exudates (to boost my immune system), to stimulate my observation skills when collecting and enhance my knowledge of and spiritual connection to and understanding of the surrounding forest.
I also add the screenings of this mulch to inoculate my compost pile with fungi after it cools down.
I don’t like to spray my plants unless I have lots of wind as it promotes mildew.
As to ponds, I collect a sample of sand, mud and water from the most natural streams and ponds in the National Forest and use that as an inoculant for my farm ponds. So again, the ecological life from surrounding forest is a part of my wetland plants and fish and by consuming them it becomes part of my family and me. Since the cells in our bodies are replaced creating new bodies, in a very real sense, we are part of the ecological life of the surrounding National Forest, it literally comprises our bodies and flows through our veins.
I must stress that we are very careful NOT to disturb or collect any endangered species of plants or animals and we don’t collect in areas were collection is prohibited by law.