Plowing & Disking

Spring is here and to say we are busy it an understatement. After the seeding is done and we have the fields all planned out we can start plowing. 

They use a moldboard plow.

The purpose of plowing is to turn over the upper layer of the soil bringing nutrients to the surface while burying weeds and remains of previous crops. When the weeds and remains are turned under they break down and release additional nutrients into the soil.

Plowing also aerates the soil which helps it to hold moisture better and provide a better medium for planting the next crop.

 

The are several components to the plow.

1. The Shank
2. The Hitch
3. The Spring reset: a safety component that prevents the plow from breaking if it strikes a rock or large immovable object
4. Culter: cuts through the debris before reaching the plow
5. Chisel (foreshare): digs into the ground and helps start the furrow (a narrow trench)
6. Share: slides across the grounds and cuts the dirt to slide it up the moldboard
7. Moldboard: turns the soil over that the share digs up

Every other year we change the direction we plow the field. This way we make sure the field is level and even. This year we are starting on the outside of the field and working our way to the center turning the soil in. Next year we will start in the center of the field and work our way to the outside turning the soil out.

After the field is plowed and the soil is loosened we will then disk the fields.

Disking breaks up the large clumps of soil left by the plow while smoothing and leveling the soil further aerating it and preparing it for vegetable beds.

Before the disk:

After the disk:

Even our daughter, Bryn likes to help her Daddy with the fieldwork!

 

 

Next step, laying the beds for the seedlings!

 

We have roughly 300-350 acres to plow and disk and then we are ready for some beds!