Nella Mae Parks went from a farm with lots of topsoil to one with lots of clay, and in the subsequent decade she has learned a lot about clay! Nella Mae’s Farm is in Cove, Oregon. Podcast host Katie Kulla and Nella Mae talk about the advantages that clay can provide (high water and nutrient holding ability), as well as the disadvantages (can be hard to work with, can turn into a brick if worked at the wrong time).

They also discuss how to open up clay soil whether you till or not, how to deal with the difficulties associated with both direct seeding and transplanting into clay, why she’d take clay over sand, and more!

 

In Shop Talk with Neversink Farm we chat about new tools, old tools, how they can benefit your farm and tips to use them successfully with Conor Crickmore of Neversink Tools, which manufactures tools for farmers. In this episode of Shop Talk, we talk about strategies for using low tunnels in the winter. We discuss how in areas with very cold winters, low tunnels inside a greenhouse can not only keep crops alive for winter sales, they can also be used to keep crops looking good for spring sales. In milder climates, low tunnels can be used the same way but in the field.

Thanks to our collaborator on this podcast Neversink Farm. They make this podcast free to everyone with their generous support. For tools designed and made by farmers, check out www.NeversinkTools.com

 

Articles Mentioned In This Episode:

"Strategies for farming in clay" by Nella Mae

 

Connect With Guest:

Website: https://nellamaesfarm.com/

Instagram: @nellamaesfarm

USDA Soil Survey Website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soil/soil-survey

 

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