Garden Journal

Take a stand: Imladris Farm in Fairview is looking for a trustworthy and outgoing person to peddle their products at local markets. The job is a weekend position, with pay based on sales. This is a good opportunity to learn more about the market end of small-scale farming. Call 628-9377 to find out more.

Sowing circles: Larkspur may be sown in September so seeds will germinate in the fall. Given a protective mulch after the ground freezes, they will over-winter and produce extra early, long-stemmed flower spikes. Other flowers that prosper with early fall planting include alyssum, gypsophila, bachelor’s button, calendula, candytuft, clarkia, dianthus, nemophila, nierembergia, nigella, phlox, poppy and sweet pea.

Pull up the covers: If your veggies are pretty well blown out at this point in the season, it’s a great time to plant a green-manure or cover crop. Clover, buckwheat, rye, soybeans and other quick-growing crops will green up in cooler fall weather and can be turned under in late autumn or early spring. Adding a soil inoculant will ensure that more atmospheric nitrogen is fixed in root nodules — adding even more to your soil fertility.

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About Cecil Bothwell
A writer for Mountain Xpress since three years before there WAS an MX--back in the days of GreenLine. Former managing editor of the paper, founding editor of the Warren Wilson College environmental journal, Heartstone, member of the national editorial board of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, publisher of Brave Ulysses Books, radio host of "Blows Against the Empire" on WPVM-LP 103.5 FM, co-author of the best selling guide Finding your way in Asheville. Lives with three cats, macs and cacti. His other car is a canoe. Paints, plays music and for the past five years has been researching and soon to publish a critical biography--Billy Graham: Prince of War:

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