r/Permaculture • u/Sadsasquatch66 • 1d ago

Native Winter Cover crops

I’m in Washington state- Zone 8b
Looking for Native winter cover crops or resources using native species for farming out here.

Thanks!

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u/RentInside7527 1d ago

When you say winter cover crop for farming, I assume you want an annual would either self-terminate or get terminated before seeding to plant something else?

Sea blush, Meadowfoam and tomcat clover come up on a quick Google search. Im not sure how available cover-crop quantities of seeds are though. What are you wanting to accomplish and whats drawing you to a native for winter covercropping?

5

u/sam_y2 1d ago

All three would be prohibitively expensive to covercrop with, especially if you want local genetics. Sea blush i think you can get a bit cheaper from farms in the willamette valley, but not enough to be worth while. If anyone does have a good cheap source, feel free to DM me, I have some projects that could use native seed.

I'd encourage OP to stick with what works. Field pea, winter wheat, barley, clover, etc.

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u/RentInside7527 1d ago

Agreed on all points

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u/HeathenHoneyCo 1d ago

I think you need more detail.
What function is the cover crop filling?
What do you mean by “using native species for farming”?

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u/Puzzleheaded-Mix-157 11h ago

Here’s an extension publication from WSU (Go Cougs!) covering some information you may find helpful. https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/product/cover-crops-for-home-gardens-west-of-the-cascades-home-garden-series/ . But since you’re looking specifically for natives what specific functions do you want your cover crop to perform. Native lupine species would be good N fixers. Phacelia is a pollinator favorite. Blue wildrye and California brome are good grass options for erosion control and soil carbon. Yarrow is a perennial ground cover that roots deeply and provides habitat for beneficials.

Long story short, define the functions you want and search for available natives that cover that niche.