Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["E. E. Mitchamore Jr" <emitch@att.net>]

When you don't bring organic matter in, but produce it on site, how do you assure that all the minerals are present and being replenished in sufficient quantity?  Periodic soil tests?

 

E. E. "Mitch" Mitchamore
www.hillcountrynatives.biz

----- Original Message -----

From: Ken Hargesheimer

To: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 10:40 AM

Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] What to do when the mulch runs out?

Increasing the organic matter in the soil is a MUST; no debate.  Otherwise, it goes down and yields go down, insect problems increase, disease problems increase, weeds increase, water infiltration decreases and on and on.

 

When some is free and is going to the landfill, it is better to bring it to the garden/farm for recycling.

 

You can add organic matter to the soil without bringing it in from outside.  Use green manure/cover crops.   Rotate the beds with food crops and gm/cc or use interplanting.  When done correctly, at the end of the growing season, you will have more than you took out so each year the soil is richer.

 

There is documented, unlimited proof the above is true.

 

Ken

 

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