bare earth is bad earth!!!!!

Although it is traditional for gardeners to clear their land and leave it empty for the winter, there is another way.
This photo shows one quarter of the vegetable garden - the section given to legumes (beans and peas) next year.
The bed is is now planted with green manures - red clover and field beans- and broad beans were sown today.
The leaves of the growing plants will dissipate the compacting effects of winter rains. The roots of these leguminous plants will enrich the soil for a longer period.
The stems and leaves will store nitrogen that will be released in the spring when green manures can be 'dug in' or chopped off and used as a mulch or composted.