I've read quite a bit about cover crops and the benefit to the soil, however, in my case, I can grow things all year round, so the idea of having my raised bed in gardening boxes taken out of use, seems a bit futile. My growing soil is limited anyway - but it sounds great if you live in a cold climate, where you could sow the crop late in the fall, and let nature and cold weather do the breaking down for you.

It depends then, in my opinion, on what type of gardening you do. I feel that I can get similar results just by adding good compost and soil amendments before planting.

At the present time, my summer time beds have been covered with mulch - made up mostly from leaves and chicken manure, and leaf mold, with the hope of bringing up angle worms from deep in the earth, to help revitalize my soil, in time for next month's fall/winter plantings of bok choy, cabbage, broccoli, beets, etc.

Just my 2 c's.

Bejay

I have never used one but there are a lot of good reviews for the Black & Decker GC818 18-Volt Cordless Electric Garden Cultivator at Amazon.com. It seams like its practically made for small areas like a raised bed.

Take a look at the reviews at the bottom and see what you think.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cordless Electric Garden Cultivator

That's a VERY tempting little tool!
I can't figure out if it comes with the battery and charger or not. I'll have to go down to the HD and see if it comes with. Thanks Nancy

Nancy here's a complete one at a good price.

Here is a link that might be useful: Black & Decker 18V Rechargeable Garden Cultivator GC818

I bought a hand tool that did ok, bought it in the middle to end of growing season, so I can't vouch it did a great job, it was never used accept towards the end. It's a hand tiller I got off Amaazon.com, cool tool, It stands about 3 feet tall with inner and outer spikes with a t-handle to twist the spikes back and forth, would be great for beds. There is also a smaller version, but it looks like an invitation for carpul tunnel. One hand, twisting back and forth, the repetitive motion would damage the strongest wrists, only my guess, but here's the link if your looking for something nonelectric:

http://www.amazon.com/Ames-HDP12-8-STANDING-TILLER-PRONG/dp/B000FJRS4W/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1286165517&sr=8-10

There are some under other names called garden weasel, but that's not the one I bought, still you could look into those too.

You can plant yellow dock as ground cover and believe it or not dandelions, just pick the flowers off so no seeds. Not sure you would like that, but it's true, plus you can plant ragweed. All good for your plant, there is also beans as a cover crop or peas, the replenish the soil with nitrogen and goodies of all kinds, just plow them under as you go.

Here is a link that might be useful: garden tool

Cover crops don't really have to be turned in if you switch to a no-till gardening style. Cut the tops off close to the soil surface and either put them on the compost pile or just lay the tops down as mulch. You can chop them up a bit if you want. A weed eater would work well for this process. Pull them back to plant. The nutrients still end up in the soil. (I'm not a "hard core" no-till gardener but it does work.)

Sandy

If your beds will not be in use over Winter, cover crops are very useful. Turning them into the soil by hand tools is not so hard either.
Crimson clover, vetch, rye are easy. If you want some bang for your buck, plant some fava beans. Attractive plants and the beans are quite tasty in some recipes. Roots fix nitrogen, the cut down plants are good for your compost pile. Even Orchard Supply Hardware carries fava bean seeds now.

Thanks all! NT

I'll always put in a word for favas! Don't dig the plants, just chop them down and compost.
I love the beans. The trick is to pick 'em bofore they're huge and tough