Healthy Soil and Composting
“Every time you take a step in a mature Oregon forest, your foot is being supported on the backs of 16,000 invertebrates held up by an average total of 120,000 legs.”
~ Dr. Andrew Moldenke, Oregon State University.
It’s not just Dirt man, it’s Soil! Some people use the words “dirt” and “soil” as though they are the same thing. In my mind, soil is the habitat that feeds our plants. Soil is living matter, a variety of physical, chemical, and biological forces constantly at work. It may or may not surprise you to know that soil consists of five major ingredients: AIR, water, inorganic bits of rock and mineral, humus, and living organisms.
Dirt, well, dirt is a different matter altogether, LOL… dirt is what you have all over your clothes, under your fingernails, and smeared all over your face after a long day in the garden. It is in every crack in the sole of your shoe, it is all over the side of your leg where you habitually wipe it off your hand, it is on your waist where your hands go as you take on “the pose” of concentration… whatever you personally call it, get to know it… personally.
Start out learning about soil with the article, Healthy Soil Basics The best way to prevent disease in your garden is to make sure you have healthy plants. This starts with the soil fertility…
Feeding the Soil Organically
- Composting
Organic feeding of the soil doesn’t get any easier than this! Learn how to compost and learn how to troubleshoot problems with your compost. - Vermicomposting
The nutritional value of soil is hard to tell just by looking at it. The darker the soils the more probable that more organic matter is there. Did you know that the richest soil around is made up mostly of earthworm castings, which is the earthworms manure? - Organic Fertilizers
When used in reference to fertilizers, the word organic generally means that the nutrients contained in the product are derived solely from the remains or a by-product of an organism.
Soil Composition
- Understanding Soil pH
Learn how to identify your soil’s pH, how it affects your plant’s food and how to amend your own garden soil. - What Affects the Absorption of Soil Nutrients?
The most important thing? Read it!
Soil Testing
- Soil Testing
- Soil Testing Tools
- When and How Often to Sample Garden Soil
- Where to Sample Garden Soil
- How to Take a Soil Sample
“The earth neither grows old or wears out if it is dunged.”
~ Columella, circa 45 A.D.