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  • From: Bill Jones <billj AT harborside.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] This and That
  • Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:54:16 -0800

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




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