By the first week of June, most backyard gardeners have only just finished planting their beds and are looking forward to summer’s bounty of lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers. However, KCD’s Community Ag Crew want you to consider the benefits of cover cropping and to make plans to pick up a FREE sample bag of cover crop seed to incorporate into your winter garden. In addition to improving soil structure by avoiding soil compaction/erosion from winter rains, cover crops help keep valuable nutrients in the soil, suppress weeds and create habitat and food for native pollinators.
Beginning August 1, KCD will be making available FREE cover crop seed to any backyard gardener who has submitted a soil test through KCD (also a FREE service from KCD). You can pick up your seed and instructions at our office in Renton, our volunteer events and tours or at the following farmers markets (look for KCD’s booth):
- Kirkland Farmers Market – Wednesday, August 8
- Auburn Farmers Market – Sunday, August 12
- Issaquah Farmers Market – Saturday, August 25
- Bellevue Farmers Market – Thursday, September 6
- Shoreline Farmers Market – Sunday, September 9
- Ballard Farmers Market – Sunday, September 16
- Wallingford Farmers Market – Wednesday, September 26