Why soil biology matters

We have been taught that an ideal soil PH is between 6.5 and 6.8.  Did you know that annuals require nitrogen in the form of NO 3 (nitrate) and that form of nitrogen is only produced naturally in soil in a PH of 7.0 or higher.  If the soil PH is lower than 7.0 the nitrogen available is in the form of ammonium that is used by perennials, shrubs and trees but not by annuals.  So we add commercials fertilizer and our annual plants grow bigger than when we didn't add any fertilizer.  We are then convinced that the only way to grow plants that look healthy is to add commercial fertilizer. 

How did plants grow and thrive before the advent of commercial fertilizers?  If we believe what the chemical companies tell us about the need for their products, we would have to assume that plants have never in the history of the earth been so beautiful and healthy as they are today.  We know that isn't true, so how does nature work?

The microorganisms that inhabit the soil know how to cycle nitrogen better than any man made product can ever hope to accomplish.  PH becomes a mute point when you allow the microorganisms to do their job.  They control the PH and that will change many times during the coarse of a plant's life.  The plant sends signals through the exudates at the roots what it needs.  If the soil biology is present in sufficient quantities, they react to that signal and produce the nutrients that the plant is asking for.  The plant is supplying the organisms with the sugars that they need for energy to supply the plants with their needs.  It is a relationship that has worked for thousands of years without any help from man. 

So what can we do to restore the life in the soil that we have done such a good job of destroying?  Start by understanding what the effects of each additive or spray we are told to use is to the life in the soil.  When you hold soil in your hand, know that there are millions and millions of life forms working for your benefit in that handful.  They want to do the work that they are designed to do.  I, for one, am happy to stop spending money on something that nature does so much better than man can ever do.

Healthy soil makes healthy plants that make healthy food.

Gardener's Day at Zwingli Church

I will be at the Gardener's Day at Zwingli UCC in Souderton on Saturday.  I will be demonstrating aerated compost tea,  how to make extracted tea and how to make humic acid.  We will have our vermicompost for sale and will show the process from start to finish.  Here is the link for the Gardener's Day.
http://www.zwingli.org/gday.php

Stop by and ask me what I learned this week at Rodale Institute!  We will have a bowl full of worms (gummy) waiting for you!

Peppers April 25

Here is the update on the peppers.

They both look healthy.  The difference is becoming more pronounced with each passing week.  The size of the leaves and the thickness of the stem is noticeably different.  I am not sure how I will continue the comparison in my garden.  I might replant them in a larger pot and grow them like a patio plant.  It would be interesting to see the difference in production.

The Power of One

I think that too often we forget the power of one person.  What can I as one person do to effect change on the world around me?  I am just one person in a sea of millions.  Do my choices and actions really matter?  These are questions that I ask myself.  Can changing the way I treat the soil make a difference in my community for the good of others?  Is the health of our soil really important?  I believe that it is important not only for me but for all those that will live long after I die.

How do you create a healthy soil environment so you will never have to add calcium, lime, fertilizer, etc. to your garden or lawn again?  Is that even possible?  I spent 3 days this weekend learning about soil biology from Dr. Elaine Ingham at Rodale Institute.  I am so excited to be able to tell you that it not only is possible, it is being done by all who are willing to step off of the chemical merry-go-round.

We can change being dependent on chemicals to grow our foods and our lawns.  The tools and knowledge are available to make that change.  We have the power to make a change.

“One person can make a difference and every person should try.”

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Do you know where your earthworms are?

The earthworm is one of nature's top "soil scientists." The earthworm is responsible for a lot of the things that help make our soil good enough to grow healthy plants and provide us food. Worms help to increase the amount of air and water that gets into the soil. They break down organic matter, like leaves and grass into things that plants can use. When they eat, they leave behind castings that are a very valuable type of fertilizer.

Earthworms are like free farm help. They help to "turn" the soil—bringing down organic matter from the top and mixing it with the soil below. Another interesting job that the worm has is that of making fertilizer. If there are 500,000 worms living in an acre of soil, they could make 50 tons of castings. That's like lining up 100,000 one pound coffee cans filled with castings. These same 500,000 worms burrowing into an acre of soil can create a drainage system equal to 2,000 feet of 6-inch pipe. Pretty amazing for just a little old worm, don't you think?

Having worms around in your garden is a real good sign that you have a healthy soil.  So how do you create an environment that supports all those earthworms?

Earthworms need plenty of organic matter to survive.  Keep your garden soil covered with organic mulch.  You can use grass clippings, shredded leaves or compost.  Mulch works like a blanket for the ground.  It keeps the soil cool and moist in the summer and warm in the winter.  These are ideal conditions for garden worms!

Of course, some of the best ways of increasing earthworm populations is by not harming them.  The overuse of chemical fertilizers or fungicides (including copper-based ones) can be detrimental to earthworm numbers.  Frequent deep tillage will not only expose earthworms to an unwelcoming dry environment and hungry birds, but it reduces their food source by increasing decomposition of ground cover.  Zero-till soils have been shown to have four times as many worms as cultivated soils.  One of the many great things about no-till gardening is that it protects and promotes earthworm populations.

Next time you head to your garden, take a shovelful of soil and count the worms.  If you measure 12"x12"x7"deep, the optimum number of worms should be approximately 60.  If you have 10 or less, your soil does not have a healthy community of the necessary microorganisms.  The number of worms is the best indication of your soil health.

 

Pepper test

I started two peppers plants for a comparison test.  One pepper is growing in a potting mix using 1 part vermicompost to 5 parts potting soil mix.  The second pepper is growing in pro mix.  I have only been using water but will start using Miracle Gro to feed the pepper growing in pro mix and vermicompost tea for the other plant.  The plant on the left is growing with vermicompost and the difference is already noticeable.