Note:
I am buying much less than the commonly recommended lb/acre seeding rate for the areas I have to plant. This is because I am following a completely different strategy than conventional farmers. I am not weeding or plowing so I am planting on top of the existing ground vegetation. I'm hoping that some varieties are strong enough to out-complete native plants, thus increasing overall biodiversity while providing direct forms of nourishment to humans, animals, insects and the soil.
My seed mixture to broadcast over 2-3 acres will be as follows:
LEGUMES
(These seeds I will be coating with a general purpose "Bean/Pea and/or Clover/Alfalfa" Inoculation to ensure the necessary nitrogen-fixing bacteria are present in a soil where they have not grown before)
12 Pounds Winter/Field/Austrian Peas:
Renowned for their cold-hardiness (10-15F), edible to both humans and wildlife. Peas are a legume, all of which increase the available nitrogen in the soil. The bacteria Rhizobium develop a symbiotic relationship with the roots of legumes, fixing atmospheric nitrogen through microbial processes
6 Pounds Hairy Vetch:
Vetch is essentially a type of pea, with the greens shoots and young seeds being edible. Also a Legume, fixing nitrogen and adding organic matter to the topsoil
5 Pounds Fava Beans:
Another member of the Legume family. Cold hardy, good for enriching the soil, good for enriching the diet
2 Pounds each of Crimson Clover and Red Clover:
Deep taproots help stabilize the soil and transform minerals deep in the soil into fresh organic matter
5 Pounds of Sweet Clover:
Particularly good honey/pollinator-attractant plant and grows tall with deep taproot: All parts are edible when fresh, including the root
2 Pounds Alfalfa:
Extremely deep taproot (as deep as 20+ feet) is excellent at pulling up minerals from very deep in the soil. Alfalfa is also a very nutritious green for humans and animals alike
1 Pound Fenugreek:
Seeds and greens useful culinary and medicinally. Grows well in cold weather
GRAINS
2 Pounds Winter Wheat:
Young greens are nutritious for all, roots stabilize the soil and bring organic matter to the surface. Straw and wheat seeds have countless uses
7 Pounds Winter Rye:
Sprouts edible! Will overwinter just about anywhere from what I've read. Very nutritious grass and grain, again the straw and rye berries have countless uses
7 Pounds Oats:
Oat grass is a well-known tonic for the nervous system, acting to soothe agitated nerve endings. Oat grass is favored by deer and other foragers. This grass may die over the winter.. if it does it will have fed the deer and myself during the fall and it will increase soil fertility by adding organic matter
OTHERS
5 Pounds Dwarf Essex Rape:
Related to cabbage, this green is nutritious and very cold-tolerant
5 Pounds Radish:
Edible including the small tuber, a very short-season crop that can be harvested as winter sets in
1 Pound Turnip:
Edible with larger tuber, adds to diversity and balance of seed mix
2 Pounds Cress:
Short edible green very good for adding diversity and balancing out aggressive bugs populations
3 Pound Mustard:
Great for balancing bug populations, edible, hardy, and brings organic material to the surface
2 Pounds Arugala:
Another quick-production green that's quite cold-hardy
1/2 Pound Kale:
One of my favorite greens, kale is known for its ability to over-winter in many climates
Vetch is essentially a type of pea, with the greens shoots and young seeds being edible. Also a Legume, fixing nitrogen and adding organic matter to the topsoil
5 Pounds Fava Beans:
Another member of the Legume family. Cold hardy, good for enriching the soil, good for enriching the diet
2 Pounds each of Crimson Clover and Red Clover:
Deep taproots help stabilize the soil and transform minerals deep in the soil into fresh organic matter
5 Pounds of Sweet Clover:
Particularly good honey/pollinator-attractant plant and grows tall with deep taproot: All parts are edible when fresh, including the root
2 Pounds Alfalfa:
Extremely deep taproot (as deep as 20+ feet) is excellent at pulling up minerals from very deep in the soil. Alfalfa is also a very nutritious green for humans and animals alike
1 Pound Fenugreek:
Seeds and greens useful culinary and medicinally. Grows well in cold weather
GRAINS
2 Pounds Winter Wheat:
Young greens are nutritious for all, roots stabilize the soil and bring organic matter to the surface. Straw and wheat seeds have countless uses
7 Pounds Winter Rye:
Sprouts edible! Will overwinter just about anywhere from what I've read. Very nutritious grass and grain, again the straw and rye berries have countless uses
7 Pounds Oats:
Oat grass is a well-known tonic for the nervous system, acting to soothe agitated nerve endings. Oat grass is favored by deer and other foragers. This grass may die over the winter.. if it does it will have fed the deer and myself during the fall and it will increase soil fertility by adding organic matter
OTHERS
5 Pounds Dwarf Essex Rape:
Related to cabbage, this green is nutritious and very cold-tolerant
5 Pounds Radish:
Edible including the small tuber, a very short-season crop that can be harvested as winter sets in
1 Pound Turnip:
Edible with larger tuber, adds to diversity and balance of seed mix
2 Pounds Cress:
Short edible green very good for adding diversity and balancing out aggressive bugs populations
3 Pound Mustard:
Great for balancing bug populations, edible, hardy, and brings organic material to the surface
2 Pounds Arugala:
Another quick-production green that's quite cold-hardy
1/2 Pound Kale:
One of my favorite greens, kale is known for its ability to over-winter in many climates
