Sow a cover crop on a fallow Colusa County roadside garden plot (2026-07-20)

Small garden plots along Colusa County roads sit bare through the winter between growing seasons, losing topsoil to every valley storm. A cover crop of clover and vetch holds the soil and rebuilds it for spring. Standard: NRCS cover crop establishment standard + SDG 15 Proof: Photo of seeded and watered bed Method (NRCS cover crop establishment standard + SDG 15): 1. Clear the fallow bed of old plant debris and large clods. 2. Rake the surface lightly to loosen the top inch of soil. 3. Broadcast the cover crop seed mix evenly across the bed. 4. Rake again lightly to cover the seed, then tamp gently. 5. Water the bed until evenly moist. 6. Photograph the seeded bed and log the seed mix used. Done when: Photo of seeded and watered bed

Where

Roadside garden plot, Colusa County, CA 95932

Pay

$140 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

Photo of seeded and watered bed

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

entry

Open until

2026-10-19

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 120–480 minutes. Method of record: Cover crop establishment per NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 340 (species mix, seeding rate/date/depth for the site) — soil-building DOING under the VM0042 soil-carbon MRV path; assess→seed→verify

Bring

• site-appropriate NRCS 340 seed mix (rate per the plan) + seeder/broadcaster or hand tools at garden scale
• rake/harrow or drill access for seed-to-soil contact
• camera + GPS + a simple rain/irrigation plan for establishment
• gloves + sun protection

Steps

1. 1. ASSESS: photograph the field/plot as found (bare soil, crusting, erosion rills), record GPS boundaries and area, and confirm the seed mix + rate + seeding window against the NRCS 340 job sheet for the site.
2. 2. Prepare the seedbed minimally (rake/harrow surface crust; no deep tillage) and broadcast or drill the mix at the planned rate and depth.
3. 3. Ensure seed-to-soil contact (cultipack/rake-in) and apply establishment water if the plan calls for it.
4. 4. Mark/photograph the seeded boundary and log the seeding date, mix, and rate as the establishment record.
5. 5. VERIFY: return at the plan's check window (10–21 days) and photograph emergence across ≥3 representative spots; log estimated ground-cover percent and reseed thin patches per the job sheet.

If it does not match the plan

• Outside the viable seeding window for the mix -> reschedule; do not seed to fail.
• Herbicide carryover or contaminated-soil suspicion -> stop and route to the agronomist/NRCS conservationist before seeding.
• Erosion gullies beyond seeding's fix -> document and route to the NRCS engineer for structural practice first.

What counts as done

• Seeding record complete: date, mix, rate, area, GPS boundary, before photos
• Emergence check photos at ≥3 representative points inside the window
• Estimated ground cover logged; thin patches reseeded or noted with cause

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.