This week we planted an oat cover crop in the Community Garden.  We planted 50 pounds of oats and then turned the oat seeds in with a harrow.  A harrow is used to lightly plow the land and cover the seeds with soil.

A cover crop is used as a "green manure".  Cover crops are grown with the intent of tilling them back into the soil rather than harvesting them for food.  They provide essential nutrients for microorganisms and earth worms.  Oats are a soil builder and a nitrogen recycler.  They also help with erosion.  We will keep you posted as we continue to prepare the garden for the 2017 growing season.