Transcript Living Soils Poster - Eel River Recovery Project

Building Living Soils: Transforming Waste
from Your Property into Fertility
Organic material from your garden or the forest can
be layered with manure from your animals to form a
compost. Remember to keep your compost moist.
An air tunnel under the pile (at left) achieves aeration
without having to turn your compost.
Plants deprived of nutrition, or that are moisture
stressed, lose vigor and often turn yellow. Plant
at right is growing in compost and shows the
deep green of good plant health.
Worms make
great compost
because they are
shedders.
Bacteria in their
intestines unlock
chemical bonds in
detritus that frees
up plant available
nutrients.
.
Soldier fly larvae can turn animal
carcasses into great compost.
Building living soils with all the organic waste from your land will
save you money, help you grow a better garden, conserve water,
avoid pollution, and have fewer pests.
Checking the temperature of
your compost helps you
monitor its development.
Compost teas and wild craft fermentations can enhance soil
productivity by adding nutrients, restoring microbes and pH
balance. Comfrey, nettles, yarrow and Chamomile are used for teas.
Horsetail has silica and made from it inhibits fungal growth on your
plants.
Addition of fungus to your compost can make a
big difference. Their extensive system of rootlike mycorrhizae intertwine with plant roots,
supplying nutrients and water.
Good compost is moist and crumbly, has a dark
color, a rich earth smell, and is teaming with life.
Living healthy soil has a whole community of
diverse organisms including bacteria, fungi,
protozoa, worms and insects. Adding artificial
fertilizer may kill microbes and disrupt the
delicate balance needed for long term garden
productivity.
Mulching protects your living soil mantle
and retains moisture so you can water less.
Compost is the instrument of infinite renewal of life.