Bad Soil, For Sure
It is now official:
My soil in the veggie and tomato beds is really and truly exceptionally poor.
I haven’t done a soil sample – that comes next – but what the plants are telling me is that the soil really needs help. The brocolli, cauliflower and eggplant have grown very spindly and tall and the leaves have been stripped before any budding could occur. The squash has suffered from something that has knocked it out at the root.
So, what next?
Build the soil!
Will start with a soil sample then add compost – lots of it! Meanwhile I applied another dose of manure compost tea from Annie Haven. The instructions that came with the tea said to apply four times per season, but I noted on my friend Chuck’s blog that he applies it once per week!
Next question then becomes, where will I get the compost?
Simple answer: Make it myself – fresh, effective.
But how?
With the help of a compost tumbler, of course, friend Robert O’Donnell’s Do It Yourself Compost Tumbler.
This afternoon I got out the plans (an ebook downloaded to your computer for only $7), made a list of hardware and parts I needed and headed for the hardware store.
An hour later and hinges, screws, nuts, PVC and screen later the project began. I purposely bought all the parts to see what the worst case price would be. So far I’m up to a whopping $35, including the barrel!
About two hours later (part of which was making the video) and here’s the barrel with the door cut out with hinges and handle on:
Compost Tumbler Phase 1
There will be a video, hopefully, available at the end.
Till next time,
See you in the garden!
Jon
Tags: annie haven, compost, compost tumbler, manure compost tea
September 4th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Jon,
Aanother fantastic NATURAL soil amendment is Annie Haven’s Green Manure Tea
I have had fabulous results the past few years
September 4th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Great post Jon.
I make my compost directly on the soil, with some old roofing iron forming edges around it, then move it on when full, leaving the compost to form. This method does need some turning of the compost, but that’s good exercise too.
But then I’ve got space in my backyard. I find compost improves my soil and the veggies really seem to appreciate it.
September 12th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Neville,
That’s a great idea! Kind of like the Chicken Tractor except you have to do the tractoring! Guess we could call it the “Human Tractor” model.
Compost done right is the ultimate soil food – has nutrients, microbes, moisture and attracts worms while having “burned out” all the bad stuff. Planning to pack it into the beds before next spring!
February 12th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Super information it is actually. We’ve been waiting for this update. I also like the design was this a free theme or a pay one?
February 26th, 2011 at 9:55 am
Free theme; call “fruity fruit”.