>> John Jeavons and his BioDynamic French Intensive
"French Intensive" is pretty much my goal, but I haven't been able to produce as much compost as I need. I resist buying "enough" compost, because I'm cheap. So I try to get by as best I can while buying as much compost as I absolutely need. For the initial change from "pure clay" to "very heavy clay loam", probably 50% or more compost is needed (a 9" layer, mixed to 18" depth). After that, I think 4" per year on top would work better than 1-2" per year.
As a result, my soil is always just a few years away from reverting to clay.
I think the sand, grit and bark that I added at the beginning and again after 1-2 years are what save me from having "clay pudding". I think of my soil as being like a perpetual souffle: prone to "falling". A lot more compost and a little more sand and bark would be very good for it.
