Bringing the Soil to Life

Bringing the Soil to Life

1. Humus

   • Made of
     • Carbon
     • Oxygen
     • Nitrogen
     • Hydrogen
   • Holds 4-6x weight in water
   • "Self-tilling"

2. Minerals

   • Water soluble fert. is not most efficient
   • Organic matter is most efficient/easiest

3. Balance

   • Diversity
   • Microbes
   • Insects

4. Tilling?

   • Good idea first year
   • Releases too many nutrients

5. Building Soil Life

   • Compost
     • Quick fix
     • easy
     • Disruption can decrease biodiversity
   • Sheet Mulching
     • Ingredients
       • soil surface
       • slashed vegetation
       • amendments
       • thin layer of manure
       • newspaper
       • hay
     • allow ~6 months for breakdown
   • Cover cropping
     • build/hold soil
     • smother weeds
     • nitrogen fixers

6. cornerstone of healthy garden