The Green Lady Thing

If you read “How it all got started” you know the basis for my Green Thing is because I am “CHEAP” The side benefit is that it is easier, healthier and safer, oh yeh, it saves the planet too.

I think growing organic has two aspects:

1. the products and 2. the practices you use.

By products I mean synthetic verses Organic with it comes to pest and disease control, and fertilizers. The practices are things like composting and mulching. However, your practices have a huge effect on the amount of products you need to buy.

Let’s start with – THE SOIL

Everything starts with the soil and everything goes back to the soil. So lets feed the soil first and it will get to the plants.

Keep the soil alive. You may not think of soil as being alive, but, I can assure you it is. They are actual living microorganisms in the soil. This is what turns everything in the compost pile in to soil. I am not a Microbiologist, however, I have listened to them talk about the microorganisms in the soil. I will not boar you with the details and try to keep it simple.

As small as they are, soil microorganisms are the real giants in your garden, Healthy soil is swarming with billions of these microorganisms in every teaspoon.

Some of the organisms are big enough to see, such as earthworms, ants and small insects. But, most living things in the soil are so small that you can only see them if you use a microscope. These microscopic organisms include nematodes (tiny worms), bacteria, fungi, algae, Protozoa and some soil insects.

These Organisms have several jobs.

1. They break down dead leaves and other plant debris, converting them into organic matter and making their nutrients available for the roots.

2. Burrow in the soil to make small tunnels that increase aeration and water movement.

3. Cause tiny soil particles to stick together, opening up spaces that allow water and air to enter the soil more easily.

4. Protecting plant roots from harmful organisms.

5. Serve as food for predators such as beetles.

To keep your Organisms happily thriving and multiplying-

1. Feed then through regular supply of organic material (compost)

2. Minimize soil compaction. 75% of soil organisms are found in the top 2 inches of the soil. (Do not walk on garden beds)

3. Protect it from erosion by covering the soil (Mulch).

4. Reduce disturbing factors such as pesticides and high doses of chemical fertilizers.

5. Rotate your garden crops or provide biodiversity with mixed species planting

Microorganisms are critical to nutrient recycling in ecosystems, because they act as decomposers. Because some microorganisms can also take nitrogen out of the air, they are an important part of the nitrogen cycle. Most important, consider your soil’s microorganisms as part of your complete garden ecosystem. These microorganisms will actively decompose organic matter and replenishes nutrients, ensuring soil and plant health.

So I hope you can see why keeping the soil alive, it is important. By using organic products you will preserve the beneficial insects, and make your plants stronger so they can fight off the harmful pest and disease. Then you will use fewer products to control pest and disease. In the end it saves you money and time, which is where I started off, because I am CHEAP.

STEP ONE

Make a compost pile, it is easy and cheap. Refer to my blog Step it up with Simplified Composting . To get compost now while you are waiting for your homemade compost, you can go to the nursery and buy bags of finished compost. Adding compost to you soil improves the drainage and microbial activity. In turn giving you plants everything they need to be healthy and strong so they can fight off pest and disease.

STEP TWO

Mulch everything! If you have a wood chipper you can make your own if not you can buy it. In my case I use so much I “let” the County empty their chippings from the tree trimming trucks on my property. Check in your local city and County for places that may give it away. My neighbor runs a tree trimming service and is always looking for places to dump his chippings that don’t cost him.

Mulch looks nice, controls weed, keeps the soil moist and controls erosion. Many things can be used as mulch, such as wood Chips, bark, straw, pine needles, cocoa bean hulls, shredded leaves, grass clippings, newspaper, the non biodegradable kinds are rocks, black plastic and landscape fabric.

After all that I have said what I want you to remember is COMPOST and MULCH, COMPOST and MULCH, COMPOST and MULCH, COMPOST and MULCH. , All the rest takes place in a world we need a microscope to observe. So first mix compost in to your soil while planting and every spring scratch some in the top soil. Second keep a thick layer of mulch on top of the soil. As time goes by the mulch will decompose and release nutrients in to the soil so you will need to add more mulch. And that’s a green thing.

Composting and Mulching allows us to reuse in a way that gives back to us and makes us and our earth healthier.

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