Here’s a listener submission two-fer: a walk-behind roller-crimper prototype and a listserv for cover cropping and reduced tillage in the Upper Midwest from Dylan Bruce of Circadian Organics and research specialist for organic and sustainable cropping systems lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Cover cropping is making headway in small-scale market gardens. Having more opportunities to utilize them efficiently and to multiple effects—like using a crop of sunn hemp and rye to build soil, then crimping it for a late Summer in-situ mulch—makes them more palatable for small-scale growers in an economic sense. And that requires the subsequent tools and knowledge to manage them properly. In this case, quickly and easily. For folks who have a walk-behind, this two-stage roller-crimper may soon be an option for taking care of the job, especially if you need to do it solo. To see it in action, head over to the Seed to Kitchen Instagram. If you’re in the Upper Midwest, get on that listserv (below). Nothing beats regional networking and experiences.

And if you have any no-till prototypes, techniques, resources, farm puns, or guest recommendations, DROP US A LINE.

Onto Dylan…

The Climate Resilient Organic Vegetable Production (CROVP) group brings together farmers, and researchers in the Upper Midwest to explore reduced tillage and cover crops as a way to build resilience to extreme weather events. CROVP is committed to farmer-led research and experimentation, and farmer-to-farmer learning, especially to support communal development and refinement of best practices for cover crop-based reduced tillage systems. The CROVP group is also testing out a USDA-designed two stage walk-behind crimper. Join the listserv and get in on the conversation by emailing CROVP+subscribe@googlegroups.com