GREEN THUMB
gardens is to compost, which will reintroduce organic matter that helps keep our soils rich and healthy.
Do Not Till Once the growth is gone, I carefully remove the card- board and compost it. No tilling. That destroys the under- ground network of plant roots, micro-organisms and my- celium that keep that whole interdependent underground ecosystem healthy. I don’t leave it uncovered for long. I want to keep the moisture in and retain nitrogen and other soil elements. Ni- trogen is essential for green leaves, shoots and roots and can be stored in plant roots. When the nitrogen ratio is just right, soil nutrients carry an electrical charge that is a soil health indicator. It’s complicated but it doesn’t have to be if you let your world of soil work with little interruption. With a trusty pick ax, I make a hole to determine how far
down the top soil reaches and what hides underneath. On a limestone hillside it doesn’t sink in far. As you guessed, I hit limestone right underneath the tiny smidge of topsoil. It’s always the same but I pretend I’m surprised. Next it’s time to add a good layer of mulch. The shredded trees from our local recycling center have been sitting for sev- eral months before I use them in the garden. If I need it to clear off an area, I apply it when it’s still hot. With the mulch in place, I let it sit through a good rain so that it settles in, adding another layer until I have at least 4 inches of top soil. When I reach that level of topsoil, I have determined
area growing conditions and know what my options are. If in doubt, I take 6-8 scoops of soil in a plastic bag down to my
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Home Composting
Compost is a term for organic matter that has decomposed into a form that plants can use. Compost adds important nutrients into your soil and keeps waste out of your land- fill. So that you don’t attract the wrong visitors to your compost pile, there are a few ingredients you shouldn’t compost including meats, bones, oils, fats and dairy. Good
mulch requires a balance of green and brown materials.
Green Ingredients for Perfect Compost: • Fresh leaves, plant cuttings and weeds • Tatch • Grass clippings. Tough they will compost, they will also benefit your lawn if leſt to decompose on your yard
• Fruit and vegetable peels and other fruit wastes • Manure • Coffee grounds and tea bags
Brown Ingredients for Perfect Compost: • Dead weeds and dry leaves • Clipped brush • Wood ash • Egg shells • Sawdust • Wood chips • Straw
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