Sparrow's Nest Organics
Always Growing
How We Do What We Do
How to Eat Our Food
Sparrow's Nest Organics is the only certified organic produce at Edmonton's wonderful, outdoor farmer's market. See us there every Saturday, from 9am - 3pm, starting May 19 through to Thanksgiving weekend. Located downtown on 104 Street, between 101 and 104 Avenues (West of Greyhound bus terminal).
Address
Sparrow's Nest Organics
Box 52
Opal AB T0A 2R0
Ph: 780-942-2259
Cell: 267-2259
Contact Us
Links
Green Manures
Green manures are any crop grown solely for the purpose of increasing or maintaining soil fertility. Once a green manure crop reaches an optimal size (usually before producing seed, which draws nutrients out of soil and the plant itself), it is cultivated back into the soil. Soil microbes feed on these residues, turning them into valuable humus: food for future plants!
In fact, the valuable legumes are a unique green manure, in that they take Nitrogen from the atmosphere and leave it in the ground, where it feeds future crops. Legumes include clovers, vetches, peas and beans.
Other purposes of crops grown for their intrinsic value (i.e., rather than as food or fiber) are catch crops (to catch moisture, or to distract insect pests from market crops) and smother crops (to out-compete weeds by smothering them).
Two of our favorite green manures are Fall rye, and an oat-pea blend. Rye not only significantly increases organic matter; it produces chemicals from its roots which prevent growth of invasive grasses (e.g., quack grass). This is called an allopathic effect. It is a highly effective green manure. Peas are legumes, so they fix atmospheric nitrogen into soil. Since they are vines, peas tend to grow along the ground. The oats stand upright, thereby trellising the peas, which increases growth rate of peas. The oats themselves provide ample organic matter for the soil.