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[Bill Jones <billj AT harborside.com>]

Lynda wrote:

> (the old one you may remember has too much water, which
> of course can't be true since this is California <g>).
It sounds as if you're blessed with low areas with some water flow 
underground.  In the area I originally chose for my garden, at the 
highest point on the property (it was convenient and never flooded), 
everything required watering every few days (with the usual lack of 
rain).  When I planted a summer crop in the area downhill from the 
seasonal spring flow, further down the hill, it hardly ever did, even 
though it was the water-loving yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia).  I wish 
that every piece of ground was similarly blessed, for you could just 
create raised beds, but I don't think it's possible for every point to 
be a low spot.

Steve Solomon wrote some interesting things about the futility of soil 
building in the dry West (except for the few naturally wet spots).  It 
makes great sense and those less blessed would do well to heed it.  
Basically, without water to keep fungi alive on the surface, mulch makes 
no progress in its conversion to humus for half the year, and the other 
half it's too cold.  It's worth benefitting from his experience.

Bill
S. Oregon coast