Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Weighing the Options

This weekend the farm had an open house so that members of the community could come and see some of the things that are living and growing at the farm. Despite the rain, almost thirty people came out to visit the farm.

One of the highlights for our farm visitors was seeing one of the birds that lives in the yellow sweet clover (Melilotus Officinalis), the Bobolink (Dolichonyx Oryzivorus). According to the Nature Conservancy, the Bobolink are in decline and are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The yellow sweet clover was planted to retain organic material while the land is in fallow. It is particularly good at helping to break up compacted soil and entices honeybees and other pollinators to the fields making it well suited to act as a cover crop. However, yellow sweet clover can be so successful that it can become an invasive weed if left to seed. The Bobolink nests in praries and grasslands and seems to have taken a liking to our clover field.

Currently under discussion is whether the protection of the Bobolink or the problem of an invasive species will win out in the decision of whether or not to plow the field. I will keep you posted...

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