We've been really stoked on our cover crop this spring. After last year's less than impressive performance, we're luxuriating in the thick rye and vetch that has sprung up this winter, despite the drought.
We think our soil fertility has increased because of the work we did last year applying compost and compost tea, establishing summer cover crops, and adding organic amendments. We still have to get a soil test done this spring, which will be super interesting.
Last summer's cover crop did really well too. We sowed it at a couple different points through the summer, and use wobbler sprinklers to keep it growing. Our east field had a big mix of rye, turnips, field peas, radishes and sunflowers.
The back half of the west field had a mix of buckwheat, turnips and daikon radish (which were delicious!).
Now that we have a bomber cover crop established we just need to work on making our mowing process a little less ridiculous...
Update: We're not ridiculous anymore! Thanks to support from our awesome friends, family and total strangers we purchased a flail mower for our walking tractor last year, and it absolutely destroys cover crop. Such a relief!