Where do I start?
It’s now easier than ever to give your crops the care they need with easy-to-get, free mulch – minutes away from your farm. The service takes away the burden from the farmer of sourcing for layering materials. Mulch helps to maintain soil temperature and moisture which is ideal for the long-term health of the crops, and being able to get that conveniently translates to greater output. It doesn’t get much better than free mulch with the added benefit to the environment through the re-use of the layering materials.
It’s a common struggle for farmers looking for reliable supplies for their crops, and mulch is no exception. The farming business is full of uncertainties from many different directions including climate, the government, and other macroeconomic factors. Free mulch in your local area is one way to reduce the risks associated with the random environment within which farming operates.
Sources of free mulch
Some mulch materials available to farmers include compost, newspapers, leaves, grass, and plastics. These can be obtained from other farms whose activities churn out the materials as a byproduct. They can also be sourced from organizations that make use of some of these waste materials. Landscaping companies are a good place to start because they have plenty of these organic materials left after they are done with their work. Newspapers are available from households or offices which often have stacks of them.
The cost will sometimes vary depending on the logistics involved in getting the mulch to the farm. Generally speaking, the closer to the farm, the more affordable the materials as will be broken down below.
In-house
On your farm, you have the most available materials that can be used for mulching both organic and inorganic. Leaves, grass, plastics, and animal waste can all be gotten directly from the farm and this works well to reduce inefficiencies through wastage. Recycling these materials makes it possible for farmers to get the most out of available resources. This is the first step for any farmer looking to optimize their business. Backyard leaves are easy to collect and make use of on the farm.
Outsource
Some organizations supply farmers with mulch materials including free delivery. Farmers should check out organizations that handle such materials as The Spruce which offers gardening and landscaping services as well. Companies whose operations have organic byproducts are also a great place to find mulch. A good example of this is tree cutting companies and your local electrical company. The electrical companies often cut down trees or trim them whenever they get in the way of power lines. They don’t have any use for these waste materials and reaching out to them could be useful. Tree cutting companies end up with a ton of waste material including sawdust which can also be added to your mulch mix.
As a business, farming has many unpredictable challenges, so any way to reduce the risk of loss is always welcome. Free and easy to get mulch is a sure way of caring for your crops without much spending. Mulch gotten from the farm or outsourced goes a long way toward ensuring that the soil remains fertile and that crops have a better chance of surviving the different seasons. It’s also a great way to encourage recycling and is worth considering for any farmer. You can always find out from your neighborhood where to source these mulch materials and organize how to get them to your farm at virtually no cost and hopefully grow your crop yield.
Does mulch have to be organic?
A lot of people don’t imagine using inorganic materials as mulch but the practice is quite common particularly when the farmer intends to use the mulch over a long period. Plastics are a good example of mulch material that can be used over and over.
How long should I use mulch?
The appropriate length of time to use mulch very much depends on the crops in question and the particular needs of the farmer. Famers are encouraged to replenish organic mulch every 2 years to keep it fresh and boost the health of the soil. In the case of inorganic materials, they can be used for as long as possible.
