From: norsgerm@a...........
It is very interesting to see how nature mixes it up, as far as plants that
benefit each other as well as the whole interaction with insects and
animals. Most of the time the results are more nutricious than monoculture
'product'.
I used to 'grain farm' (large acreage monoculture), left it voluntarily (for
various reasons) and would not go back if someone gave a million $ farm to
me. It is so stupid.
I have a remote garden in an abandoned farm yard and have an excuse for not
'mowing. It's great fun to see the varieties of plants and animals that
occupy that space.
Funny how those 'thistle weeds' will feed a bird all winter!!!
I'll post the sonnett I wrote to answer my 'nieghbors' about 'that mess'.
Kurt
"Irene Andersson" wrote in message
news:f7l492t2f9qggvq4to7qm3o243m9kiksh5@4ax.com...
..................> I'm sure it does, and I was very happy to read about
your attitude
> that there are no weeds!
> I beleive in leaving things to grow where they appear by themselves,
> especially trees, because I think that creates the most natural and
> healthy forests....................................
> On Thu, 15 Jun 2006 08:46:54 -0500, "Kurt"
> wrote:
>
>
>>I do know of some varieties that attract and digest insects but did not
>>know
>>about the milk bonnet eating nematodes. żIs that beneficial? Nematodes are
>>harmful to some farm crops, but are they just a part of 'Natures balance'
>>on
>>the whole?
>
> Many species of nematodes are also beneficial -those who eat fungi or
> other nematodes- but some are harmful. The latter are the main reason
> why you have to rotate certain crops, if you are mono-cultivating, but
> there are other methods that scientists have been studying, like
> mixing crops, or adding other nematodes or nematode-trapping fungi to
> the soil.
> Coprinus comatus (shaggy mane) is one that has been found eating the
> Peanut Root Knot Nematode, and others too.
> I tried to find what kind of nematodes the Conocybe was eating, but
> found that I was wrong - sorry about that. It hasn't actually been
> seen *eating* nematodes, just killing them.
>
> The interaction between fungi, bacteria, nematodes and other
> microorganisms is very important. They make the nutrients available to
> herbs and trees (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus), and together they
> keep the nutrients recycled and tied to the upper part of the soil.
>
>>I guess being fungi are genetically closer to animals than plants you
>>can't
>>blame them for wanting a 'burger'!
>
> I haven't thought of that, but you certainly have a point there...
>
>>My parents farmyard (because of farm activity, past livestock,etc)
>>provides
>>quite a classroom.
>
> I'm sure it does, and I was very happy to read about your attitude
> that there are no weeds!
> I beleive in leaving things to grow where they appear by themselves,
> especially trees, because I think that creates the most natural and
> healthy forests.
> It's sad to see them being cut down one after another and replaced
> with large mono-cultures of pine or spruce.
>
> Irene Andersson
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* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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