Perkins’ Good Earth Farm

Dan and Julie Perkins8301 W. 1000 N. DeMotte, Indiana

219-742-8006perkinsgoodearthfarm@gmail.com

www.perkinsgoodearthfarm.com

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Experience•Caretaker Farm, MA•Sunrise Acres Farm, ME•Restored Gardens, IA•Victory Acres, IN•Perkins’ Good Earth Farm, IN

Established 2009

Fall and Spring Produce Program Pick up at Farm Delivery in

Rensselaer CSA Model

April 3, 20154

Fall Share: October through mid-November(7 weeks )

Spring Share: March through mid-April(7 weeks)

Services Description/Examples

Cover Crops Dan, the "Cover Crop Guy," works with both organic and conventional production. See his YouTube channel at JCSWCD.

Crop Diagnostics Plant health, disease, weed, and pest identification and organic recommendation control strategy

High Tunnel Production Structure selection, irrigation setup and timing, fertility management, crop planning

Soil/Compost Fertility Customized soil sampling, organic amendment recommendation and sourcing, composting techniques and recommendations

Tools/Supplies Small-scale tool selection and advising to accomplish your goals

Workshops/Speaking Engagements Have an event/group interested in a specific farming topic? We communicate and educate on all things farming.

Gourmet Garlic“Hardneck”

Compost Use on My Farm

Why:• Low Organic Matter Soils = 1.5% - 3%• Low CEC number• Low Water Holding Capacity• Low Nutrient Levels• Intensive Production = 3-4 crops per yearHow can I change this? Fast!

How ?• Tried making commercial grade compost . . .

– 5 days at 110+ to get weed and disease free . . . – Lots of turning = tractors– Lots of spreading = more tractors

• Town of DeMotte was looking for a site to dump leaves . . . • I heard leaves could be a negative soil amendment, but for free . . .

– Relatively weed free– Not trash free . . .

• Leaf sheet composting . . . – In areas not going to production for 1-2 years

• ½ - 3 inches = not cover grass to thickly– Pay someone to spread in 2 hours for 4 acres.

• Cold Compost = Turn once a year for 3 years . .– For water holding and stable OM

Leaves being dumped by Town*Needed to be Licensed Compost Facility from IDEM.

5 Year Soil Test Results

20091.9 % Organic Matter

CEC = 4.4

20153.7 % Organic Matter

CEC= 8.1

How? . . . 4 Methods.• Leaf Sheet (Just first year)• Soil Amendments for P-K and micros (1 year)• Cold Leaf Compost (2 years)• Cover Crops (3 years)

Commercial Compost, the next step

Bed = 2.5 feet by 100 feetApply 2 wheel barrows per bed = 1 cubic yardApply to half my beds each year;

until OM above 3.5% CEC above 10.

Compost YearNumber of Beds

to ApplyTotal Cubic yard

needed year Compost Cost (Compost + Shipping)

0 33 31 $ 763.89

1 61.5 57 $ 1,423.61

Any questions?

Dan and Julie Perkins8301 W. 1000 N. DeMotte, Indiana

219-742-8006perkinsgoodearthfarm@gmail.com

www.perkinsgoodearthfarm.com