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[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Bill Jones wrote:
> But I've had poor results with leaving mulch on and expecting it to 
> decompose into something useful.  The fact is that it just
> disappeared, presumably taken by critters to make their nests.

Taken by critters???
Wow, it'd take something like Godzilla to remove my mulch.

> Ironically I've found the least use for traditional mulch here.
> There's rarely a need to keep the soil cool, when it's so cold all
> the time. Intensively planted crops shade their own soil anyway, and
> a mulch can stop the soil from warming up enough to grow
> warmth-loving crops, in addition to drawing slugs.

Mulching is essentially composting in place, at least in my beds.  That
process produces heat, which warms things.  I suppose mulching is
different for everyone, but here in the South, it warms the beds in
early Spring, holds in moisture in the heat and drought of summer, keeps
the underlying soil soft for root development and earthworms, and of
course, degrades and puts nutrients back into the earth.  Two sides to
every coin..

Bev

--
Bevanron of EarthNSky Farm   Sleep well tonight, for somewhere in the
ocean's depths, MY son is protecting YOUR freedom.