The Good Earth Farm
(Page 2 of 4)
The LeRoys prefer a more positive approach. They're quite
pleased, for instance, that their land (no doubt partly due
to those agronomists' warnings) has lain fallow for 30
years. That's good, they feel, because—as a
result—the farm is almost entirely uncontaminated by
the recent abusive use of pesticides, herbicides and
commercial fertilizers.
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Like all good organic farmers, Gene and Charlotte are more
interested in building a good life than they are in making
fast, easy profits. They regard working in the soil and
growing seeds as a pleasure in itself and they don't mind
adapting themselves to the peculiar conditions of their
land. The LeRoys' four-acre vegetable patch slopes gently
downhill, for instance, so they plow and plant the upper
level while the lower section is still too wet to work.
Later, the hot weather plants are seeded in the low land
where they'll find moisture during the dry season.
Gene insists that proper seed selection is essential and he
never buys seeds that come from the east or south. "I use
only seeds that friends give me or that I get from
Tillinghasts's Seed Co. in LaConner, Washington," he says.
"Tillinghast's seeds are produced locally and are better
acclimated to my peculiar soil conditions and climate.
Eventually I'll develop my own seeds and they should
produce an even more satisfying crop."
Signs of Gene's experiments are obvious on the homestead.
The thick sod in the apple orchard—neglected for 30
years—needed work so he's plowed the four acres and
sowed cowpeas. The long, leguminous roots of the cowpeas
will help loosen the soil and supply nitrogen to it;
they'll also produce edible peas, make good forage for the
goats and provide "green manure " for composting.
Hand-made cold frames rest near the house. The simple
wooden box frames, about five feet by three feet, are
topped by old windows and the frames protect tender
cabbage, brussel sprout, broccoli, cauliflower and other
seedlings from frost. In this way, the plants are given a
headstart so they can be harvested before the summer heat.
Gene plans to make a hot bed soon with a $7.00 20-foot-long
cable that he's bought. He'll lay the cable underground,
start peppers and cucumbers over it and enclose it all in a
frame topped by an old window of many panes. The steady
heat will give the hot weather plants the push they need.
