We eat a lot of rice in our community and because we like to grow what we eat (or is it vice versa?), we fantasize about growing rice. After awhile, someone asks: don’t we have to flood the field? The general assumption is that the answer is yes – that usually dampens the enthusiasm. But wait! we do have this one low lying field that occasionally floods (once every 10 years or so)….
Well, this is the year. The photo shows sorghum plants in the flooded field on July 29 2008. The flood receded in a few hours – but not before Gigi and the dogs had a swim in it – you can see them in the background. Ironically, sorghum thrives in dry conditions; however, the sorghum in this field is actually doing fine now.
February 23, 2009 at 3:46 pm |
Hi Stan,
Masanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese permaculturalist who grew rice *without* flooding his fields. He wrote the book “One Straw Revolution” and you can find an online copy at the Soil and Health Library: http://www.soilandhealth.org
He used
October 11, 2009 at 11:20 pm |
Yes, I am well aware of Fukuoka’s ideas and books.
thanx, stan
September 10, 2009 at 11:13 pm |
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
October 11, 2009 at 11:21 pm |
and cheers to you!
stan