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Spreading oyster shell between
lavender rows yielded unintended benefits for Jadyne and Mike
Reichner of Sequim, Washington. |
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Engines
of Ingenuity
Western SARE Projects Tap Creativity Vein
Necessity and creativity are often the mothers of sustainable agriculture
invention. And sometimes the results diverge from the intention.
Consider Jadyne and Michael Reichner
of Sequim, Washington, who applied crushed oyster
shells between lavender rows hoping to mimic the light-enhancing
white sandy soil of French lavender fields (FW01-052). The light,
they figured, would improve plant growth and lavender oil yield.
While still assessing the light’s effects, the Reichners
have found the oyster shell virtually eliminates weeding and irrigation
and contributes micronutrients to the plants at Purple Haze Lavender.
As finances permit, they’ll apply the crushed shells to their
entire 7.5 acres of lavender.
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| Steve Keller
and his son, Wiley, milk their sheep, adding an income stream
beyond lamb and wool. |
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Milking sheep as a way to extract added value beyond lamb and wool
is nothing new if you live in Wisconsin or the British Isles. But
in the Western United States, folks think it’s a little odd.
“Most of the ranchers I’ve talked to think this is
pretty weird,” says Steve Keller, whose family
and five part-time helpers milk more than 200 sheep from April through
August on Keller’s Monte Vista, Colorado,
farm (FW99-065). The milk is sold to cheese makers in New Mexico
and Colorado.
“We’re expanding as fast as we can,” says Keller.
“Both of our customers want more milk for a longer season.”
Idaho diversified row crop farmer George
Davis, working with the Bureau of Reclamation, came up
with an automated head gate (FW99-012). Powered by solar panels,
the device regulates and measures the flow of irrigation water in
response to fluctuating water levels in the delivery ditch.
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George Davis fashioned an
automatic solar-powered irrigation water diversion gate using
off-the-shelf components. |
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Hawaii tropical fruit producer Ken Love
of Captain Cook tried wrapping his fruit while it grows on the tree
(FW02-008). The protective bags retarded pests and increased fruit
value by improving color and lengthening hanging time, making the
fruit available off season. A surprising result: less labor, thanks
to reduced time for culling and inspection.
Dave Chaney, UC-Davis, found a creative use for
the Internet, developing an on-line integrated pest management course
for California certified pesticide applicators
(EW98-001). Users can complete the course at their own convenience
instead of disrupting their busy schedules to attend classes.
“As we move to sustainable farming systems, we need to bring
back a diverse infrastructure and diverse agricultural processing
systems that will help us reestablish our rural communities. I think
the Western SARE program provides the opportunity to do that.”
Karl Kupers, owner-operator of K&J Farms, Harrington, Washington
Simply Sustainable
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