Cover-cropping enhances soil health and is an important part of most no-till systems. Moonhill utilizes cover cropping methods throughout the year, taking advantage of a diverse mix of plants that nourish and replenish heavily cultivated garden beds. Moonhill steers plantings away from monoculture stands. Combined with companion planting, cover crops all help contribute to rich soil, healthy plants, and minimal pests and disease.
Moonhill encourages self-seeding and replants with collected seeds each year but does replenish stock with varieties primarily from West Coast Seeds.
Cover Crops Used
- Buckwheat
- Winter Rye
- Winter Pea
- Red Clover
- Crimson Clover
- Radish
Buckwheat and rye cover crop mix for fall
Red Clover plant kale bed border in bloom mid-summer
Daikon Radish leaf tops early fall
Daikon Radish leaves and vetch with fall leaves
Hugelkulture garden with fava bean cover cops in former kale beds
Sunflower stands and buckwheat cover underneath in mid-summer
Young buckwheat leaves pre-bloom mid-summer
Red clover bloom a pollinator favorite