Homestead mailing list

[Bill Jones <billj AT harborside.com>]

Lynda wrote:

> Ya know, there's a real problem with universities and other folks that spend 
> all their time in ivory towers.  They lack real life experience.  They 
> choose one little space and then predicate the way the rest of the world 
> will act on that little space.
>
>
>  
They performed countless more trials than you have.  The question was 
whether conifer chips could be used in large amounts to build humus, not 
over whether plants can survive in soil that incidentally grows or grew 
conifers nearby.  So go ahead and ignore the instructions and use pine 
chips when you start your mushroom kit.  Why believe me?  Try loading up 
some soil with cedar sawdust and see if it grows good radishes.  
Unfortunately, logic's just not on your side.  You're telling me that 
anything can grow just fine in soil where conifer waste was deliberately 
applied in a vain effort to create humus, and researchers are saying 
that there is evidence to the contrary.  Even if that's true, that like 
plastic pellets cedar sawdust has no influence, what would be the actual 
reason for incorporating it?  I'm happy to leave it out, since the toxic 
reaction is delayed until an undeterminable point in time, and its only 
benefit is to provide fluff anyway.  Incidentally, Steve Solomon warns 
gardeners about the harmful effects of cedar sawdust.

> Are you sure your area isn't one where they did a clear cut and then did 
> some heavy spraying (Oust and other nasties) or the slash and burn where 
> they scrape everything, top soil included, into a pile to burn?  Sounds like 
> your problem is something more than just being in a pine forested area!
>
>  
Did I say there was a problem?  Repeat: There is no problem here, just a 
green oasis among dry hills (well, not as of today, when it rained 
0.45").  The shade from the trees is the only problem.  It's not 
cleared.  But (as was my only point), I probably won't clear all of the 
trees, just all but the isolated conifers, and the extremely weedy 
smaller chittems.

So homemade pine cleaner doesn't sound like a fun homestead topic?

Bill
S. Oregon coast