Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[mtncats@planetcomm.net]

Hi Diane,

The secret of controlling ground, or buried room, temperature is to insulate 
from air temperature.  Rigid extruded polystyrene works very well (pink or 
blue by manufacturer) with 6 mil sheet plastic to control ground water 
movement.  Your well water temperature will be a good estimate of ground 
temperature at depth.  Closer to the surface, air temps will greatly change 
ground temps.  That's why you want insulation.

We live in an underground house, with insulation to keep the ground temps 
isolated from air temps.  Works very well, but our design hovers around 71º 
(± 6º), comfortable people temp.  If your well temp is adequate, all you need 
is to isolate your cellar from air temps.  If you want colder, you need to 
also cool down your dirt with winter air.

Using a scythe is mostly a matter of rhythm.  Takes some practice.  If you've 
got a European scythe, the blade is intended to be hammered as part of the 
sharpening process.  American hardware store scythes won't benefit much from 
hammering.  All you need is a stone to carry.  Take a water break and use 
your stone.  Sharper is better (duh).  There are different blades for 
different work, but until you're proficient, it won't matter much.  If handle 
length is a problem, you can order a new scythe for your physique.  Serious 
uses generally migrate to a European model with a handle sized for them.  I 
haven't yet.

Tom (in central Va)


On 7/21/06 at 2:04 PM Dianne Palmer-Quay wrote in part:

>Finally, does anyone know anything about root cellar type storage in the
>South?  My crawl space is about 74 degrees now (outside highs are the upper
>90's) which is where I am storing the surplus potatoes and winter squash
>from this year's garden.  But that temperature is too warm (according to
>the books).  Any ideas how I could create a cooler space without a
>refrigeration device?
>
>I have been
>gardening here in this sand over clay soil for 6 years and the soil is
>looking good in much of the garden, but I want to get more efficient at
>using cover crops and green manures (and how to use a scythe!).
>
>Dianne in SC
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