I use cattle fava in mid season, both as food (greens) and as a cover crop. In spring, what I don't eat I scythe. They grow vigorously, break soil, and decay fast. Generally a better nitrogen fixer and soil amender than most other cover crops, though fava is reputed to be the pulse with the highest N-fixing. The similarity between fava and soybeans is in N-fixing, biomass production, and strong, soil-breaking roots. Favas here die both in winter (by freeze) and summer (by scything, but also by something called chocolate disease, with minimal seeding). The seed is a lot more expensive than clover.

I have a solution for you! My problem was similar to yours. I have a small patio for a large lawn swing underneath 2 large Norway maple trees. It was left undisturbed for 25 years and by now the cracks between the 2 ft. square pavers were about 4 inches high with dirt, plus grass and weeds growing rambunctiously thereon. I cleaned off 2 squares. On one, I dug out an extra 3/4 inch of ground and filled it with used cat litter. (clumping, therefore sodium bentonite kind) On both, I planted moss which I had scraped out of my grass. The very next day the square with just the moss was completely uplifted with worm castings! For the first time I looked closely at the soil and realized it was all worm castings. For 5 days I watched and although the moss turned brown and seemed to die on the cat litter, not a single worm casting appeared! I've been experimenting with used cat litter and used it here to try to prevent weeds from sprouting in the cracks. Eureka! Preventing the worm castings was MUCH better. So now I've re-done that entire patio with 3/4 inch of cat litter in the cracks. I really like the look of moss there so I went to the woods and brought home 3 kinds of moss. Some have a thin layer of roots and soil. Some have a thin layer of roots and bark; so we'll see if any kind survives. The original moss I tried had no roots or soil and it survived on the bare ground but got heaved out with the worm castings.

If you are near RTP then it is maybe not a terribly long trip to Burnette's Seed and Feed in Louisburg. It is around the corner next to Moss Foods at the intersection of 401 and Hwy 56, 810 S. Bickett. They also do DMV so the signs are easier to find than the store name. They have Mason jars with a variety of loose flower and vegetable seeds, barrels of raw peanuts to grow your own, huge bags of seed corn, cover crop seeds, and such, and a variety of "farmer" seeds by the ounce or pound. A few years ago I bought rape and mustard seed mixed for a green manure crop, 2 ounces, about $.75. Enough for 1/4 acre. It is fun place to go - like stepping back in time to the '40's, even though it is just a little shop, with very sweet owners. They also have wonderful transplants of vegetables when the weather warms - grown locally by real farmers and for cheap. If you get over that way, visit Moss Foods - a creaky but wonderful place to experience where you can watch through the glass their butchers (full time young employees) cutting up fresh meats and poultry, and rounds of local cheeses, also all for cheap. There I buy unsweetened finely shredded coconut in plastic baggies of weighed sizes that they do up themselves, and other things the big stores would not even consider handling without fancy packaging and yelling labels from conglomerates. Just up the road(401) is Smith's Town & Country Supply that also has Mason jars of seeds and a huge selection of real farm stuff, lots of it for horses, cows, poultry, and goats. I used to buy my floating catfish food there when I had a pond. Closer to you there is Carpenter Farm Supply in Morrisville. Haven't been there in years but you could call to see if they have what you need in bulk or if they can order it for you. That's another "step back in time" place with wood floors and a pot belly stove, old timey implements hanging from the rafters. At least that was true 10 years ago, but times and Morrisville have changed, oh my! Yes, you can buy stuff on-line but visiting historic seed and feed shops that cater to real farmers more than makes up a fun day of adventure. Shop local!

Thanks all! Hosta, what a wonderful plant for the garden. Nothing grows better in shade than hostas. The shoots come up early in the spring before all the other veggies. The shoots taste pleasantly mild, tender and not fibery. The flavor is like a cross of asparagus and endive. You can use the shoots in salads or stir fry them. There are many hosta cooking videos on youtube. dcarch