Alleys between plastic mulched beds are covered with a thick layer of hay to suppress alley weeds in this
pepper crop at Wheatland Vegetable Farms in Purcelle, VA. The organic mulch adds organic matter, conserves soil
moisture, and prevents soil erosion in alleys. When hot summer weather arrives, the hay is pulled over the black
film to prevent excessive soil heating, as shown here. Figure credit: Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for
Biological Farming