Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Andeanfx" <andeanfx@midrivers.com>]

So the black spots on our cottonwood leaves is likely fungi starting to do 
its thing?


I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually 
happened. -- Mark Twain


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "pete" <pete.rout@virgin.net>
To: "Healthy soil and sustainable growing" 
<livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 12:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] learning curve


> In the UK you would be advised not to put leaves of any description in 
> compost (unless it is only a few). Leaves should be stacked damp and trod 
> down.  In two years they will have broken down into leaf mould, which is 
> one of the best soil conditioners.  It is also a very good ingredient in a 
> sowing compost as it helps in root development.  Leaves are broken down by 
> the action of fungi, not bacteria.
> Pete
>
> > But humans already tilled the land. I researched online when I first moved 
> > to E TX. There were articles about the small towns, and how fertile the 
> > soil was. They called it sandy loam. The trees were cut, the sandy loam 
> > turned to sand in my opinion. Various crops were grown. The soil was 
> > raped. When the forest decayed constantly, it kept it's mineral content 
> > right. When man started to export from that land, the minerals were never 
> > replenished. How does composting overcome that.? Or if the animals graze 
> > it and are moved away, same thing. I have this sandy soil,  I need to 
> > know.
> >   I have one of the books by Prince Charles about his land Highgrove. In 
> > that book that I have, they talk about oak leaves not being good for 
> > compost as the high tannic acid content would not be good. I have not 
> > found answers to that here.
>
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