Monday 1 September 2014

When You Are Tired Of Digging

I'm calling this time of my life The Summer Of Digging. We've dug all the old beds and turned in compost and fertiliser and cover crops. Holes for daffodils, crocus and bluebells was next. Then areas were cleared for wildflowers. Big holes followed for fruit bushes and roses. The mud filled drainage ditch was cleared during
a rainstorm. With our lesson learned we had the son over for a "holiday" to dig deep into the water collection pit and insert rocks and a liner and a pipe.

when you are tired of digging....

are you sure there is candy down here

Our soil is something of a mystery. Dig three holes three feet apart and the soil structure will be different in all three. One will have layers of sand and chalk and pebbles, another will be all sand, the third rich black soil.

The biggest mystery is the old wooden pipe encircled with metal bands we found under the water reservoir. This type hasn't been used since the 1920s. We're guessing it was used to provide water to a now forgotten logging camp.

Meanwhile the only book I've managed to read this Spring and Summer is Improving Your Soil by Keith Read. I was given it to review months ago and have been using it as my reference ever since.

Now I'm passing the book on to our Farmer's Institute so here is the review.



I truly, truly believe everything you need to know about soil is in this book. It goes from the basics of soil testing to scientific things like soil chemistry, bacterium species and ions right through to practical advice on drainage, pest control and fertilisers. Mr Read is a soil scientist; my brain is not designed for chemistry and physics. He won me over with sensible suggestions like listen to what your plants are telling you and look at the big picture. Those two pieces of advice have made me observe more, think more and consequently make effective decisions.

So why am I passing along such a useful book? There is more information in this book than I'll ever want or use. If the soil is the basis of your livelihood then it could be the best resource you'll ever have.

16 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great reference, Susan. I think adding compost is one of the best things you can do for your garden. I make my own compost and I top dress with it in the fall. Our gardens sure do keep us busy, don't they?

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    1. Top dressing is great. We have run out of our own compost so I'm not sure what we are going to use.

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  2. How odd that the soil is so different in three close areas. We have red clay and have had to replace it everywhere we plant.

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    1. Clay is no fun to dig through. My theories on the soil-glaciation, earthquake, logging, blasting.

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  3. I'll let you know how tired I get of digging once we start and finish all the latest projects which are just a few of the many needed...sounds like quite a comprehensive book.

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    1. The projects seem to multiply when you retire. I've just started making a new, mercifully small, bed alongside the veggie garden. Good luck with all the digging.

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  4. At least things should get easier when all the digging is done ! Then you can relax in the knowledge that your soil is as well prepared as it can be - and all grow fantastic healthy plants !!

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    1. I hope the plants appreciate my hardwork. The parsnips are looking a bit dodgy despite being in a rehabilitated bed.

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  5. I need to buy that book!!! It sounds like the most useful read that we could all learn something from!!! And my goodness have you all done a lot of work!!! I love that photo of your little guy in the hole up there! So very precious!!! Happy week to you friend and thanks for passing this one along! Nicole xoxo

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    1. Our little guy starts kindergarten today. I think two of your beans had big days too.

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  6. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress of your garden.I haven't read that book, but it sounds like a good book to have around!

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    1. Sometimes I think we are getting no where. Friends came over and were kind enough to exclaim over how much we had done. It helps.

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  7. Thanks for sharing about your soil. I too think that adding compost is the best one can do to enrich the garden's health. Maybe your area has a public compost pile. We do here. However I am cautious about public compost - you never know if the people who have put it there used herbicides etc. Just a word of caution. Jack

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    1. We don't have a public compost yet..Lots of planning going on, land use issues are slowing it down.

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  8. Hi Susan, what an interesting and important post. I think it's too easy to forget about the foundation of plants, and just look at what's above. The fact that your soil differs so much shows how much we humans can affect this growing medium. I look forward to seeing the results of your Summer of Digging.

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  9. I have found the same thing in our yard. The soil is different depending on where you dig. For instance, I think the driveway once extended further back because the soil right at the side of the house is poor and gravelly.I must say as I mature as a gardener I am paying much more attention to the soil.

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