Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Kathy Moore" <anichinimoore@hotmail.com>]

Michael and Paul,
I'd be interested in the discussion of the science behind all of this.  I'd 
also be interested in applying some of the same techniques on my farm (160 
acres) in NW OK to restore soil life and increase organic matter, etc.

Have noticed under the extreme heat and with the extreme drought that growth 
is stunted in recently planted grape vines under drip irrigation.  However, 
with some of the grape vines  that were shaded by tall horsetails (6 rows of 
26 got away from my hand weeding efforts) grew the most.

Believe the shade from the horsetails reduced the western sun exposure may 
have created increased growth?  But, why is the question?  Is from the 
carbon not being degraded as quickly so more food was available?

I'm using humates, nonhydrolized fish emulusion and kelp from Neptunes 
Harvest and the grass between the rows is multched.  Michael's products are 
not available in OK to my knowledge.

I also have pasture I'd like to drip irrigate and improve so am most 
interested in techniques to improve soil under extreme temperatures and 
similiar conditions to those described.  Am not a scientist, but, a 
farmer/gardener interesting in learning and listening to wisdom much greater 
than mine.

Thank you for all these discussions and information.  I'm learning a lot and 
appreciate all of it!
Kathy Moore
NW OK



From: Soilsecrets@aol.com
Reply-To: Healthy soil and sustainable growing 
<livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] 2nd reply to: another picture of humusgrowing 
in Arizona
Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 13:52:47 EST

Paul,

The area near Snowflake is just as you described, barren and perhaps nearly
toxic.  The site has no preexisting native grass, only declining Juniperus
and Ephedra shrubs and maybe if you look hard some snake weed.  The soil is
decomposed mineral and very easy to dig, but it has absolutely no  humus or 
life.
 In the case of this site on the original farm plot,  intensive compost
application, mulching and double digging was made.  From  the get go the 
soil
became productive and growing of produce was successful, but  the growth of 
humus
and the formation of a humus rich A horizon was not  happening.  The aridity 
of
the site, heat of the summer and   starvation of the soil life was robbing
the carbon from the soil faster than it  could be applied.  The farm size is 
now
being expanded and with the use of  Soil Secrets humus Inoculants the soil 
is
very productive from the start, first  season with huge yields.  The areas
that have been retreated for up to 4  years are those areas showing a humus 
rich
topsoil zone that is at least 3  inches deep.  In many areas it is much
deeper.  There's a technical  explanation for the rapid accumulation of 
humus that
is not happening on the  site, above and beyond what is being applied as a
supplement, and I'd be glad to  share that with anyone who asks.  But I 
don't
want to tie up space on this  venue with scientific jargon and details.  If 
the
science is good it will  work.  We are now doing a lot of work with some
international agencies and  governments on the concept of carbon 
sequestering via
humus and Glomalin  formation in the soil, and that is the same thing that 
this
site in Arizona is  exemplifying.

Michael M. Melendrez








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