Controlling weed in the orchard

As the monsoon ends, our biggest challenge has been a sea of overgrown grass. We immediately faced a dilemma: our farmer friends advised tilling, but the Indian and Japanese natural farming principles we follow advise against it to protect soil life. We truly value this ground cover for aerating soil and attracting beneficial insects. But a practical balance was essential. A fruit orchard with 4-foot grass is unmanageable and a genuine safety hazard, offering ideal cover for snakes. We couldn't risk someone accidentally stepping on one.

Our first attempt, brush cutters, aligned with our principles by mulching the soil, but it was overwhelmingly slow. Clearing our 5 acres would take an estimated 3 months, an impossible timeframe. We were constantly behind. That’s when we came across a stubble mower, which brought the clearing time down to about two weeks.

We want to be open: this was a compromise we wrestled with. A fuel-powered machine isn't perfectly aligned with Fukuoka’s principles or our renewable energy goals. But it's the 'best-fit' solution we've found. Crucially, it avoids tilling (our main concern) and mulches everything, returning all that organic matter to the soil. It's the most workable compromise between our ideals and on-the-ground reality, especially as effective electric mowers aren't available in India.

This is all a learning process for us. We found our mower at Raithra Mane in Tumkur. We're happy to share our experience, so please feel free to ping us at +919677201088. And honestly, if you know of any effective electric stubble mowers, we would be genuinely grateful to hear about them!