Back to the blog...when I'd rather be in a warm, sunny garden

The flowers & foliage collected raindrops all day yesterday...

& sunlight has touched the green on & beyond the balcony only a times this morning...

Now it's overcast and my feet are cold. In socks! In late May! So no better time to come indoors and complete this post. I started writing it yesterday but have been working with the topic for the past month.

Before the seeds, the greens, the flowers, even before the new gardening books I love, I'm going to feature, appreciate and celebrate soil. Because, as Jeff Nield reminds us, "soil [is] the real black gold":

Farmers realize that the real goal is to grow and strengthen their soil. Along the way, they grow food for themselves and for the rest of us eaters. The by-products of their labour (manure and composted plant material) create a robust and resilient section of earth.

While doing research for my organic agriculture project, I stumbled across this article which evoked in me several "Aha" moments and a stronger commitment to and appreciation of this Good Earth. Please, if you have 5 minutes, go read Jeff Nield's essay now. Even if it means you won't have time to come back here. I think it's required reading for anyone who gardens. Well, anyone who eats. If you do read it, I think you'll understand why I'm putting even more effort into what goes into my pots before the seeds or transplants.

Everytime we eat, we owe a nod of gratitude to the soil for supplying us with nutrients that keep us alive...if we don't learn to protect what lies beneath our feet, all our talk about local food will be moot as we munch on dirt cookies.
~Jeff Nield, Soil: The Real Black Gold

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The soil & amendment (vermicompost) in my balcony garden:

This organic soil mixture has been nourishing the young plants that soon will nourish me:

My system for retaining organic matter:

 

Usually I just collect garden trimmings in this pail & then transfer partly decomposed material to my Mom's compost bin. This season, though, I've been adding fresh material to the pail daily, turning its contents regularly, and placing it in warm sunshine so it "cooks". And I think I may soon have some finished compost. Hurrah. I'm as pleased and proud of this as I am of any thriving plant in my garden.

While I've been writing this last paragraph during the noon hour, I've been aware of something bright to my left side. Yes, sunshine. I wonder how long it will last? Hopefully long enough to warm the soil. I'm off now to inoculate and sow some bean seeds.

Comments

[Sophie]

This is so true Elaine, it's easy to forget about the soil but it really is the fundamental ingredient.

I really should learn more about composting if you can recommend any resources? All I do at the moment is tip our compostable waste in the top of the compost bin and hope for the best

[Elaine]

Hi Sophie.

Sorry for the delayed response. I was away for a day.

I have a few favourite composting resources. I'll compile them into a list, which I'll publish in a separate post. In the meantime, here are two I recommend:

- The Science and Engineering of Composting (Cornell University)

- Worms Eat My Garbage

I don't have a vermicompost system at present but I did in the past & think it's the best method for composting food waste. As soon as I free up some space in my storage locker (the balcony is now full of plants & tools) I would like to set up vermicomposting again.

[Arwen from Hoglet K]

That's great that you've got the compost to work in a bucket! I love your close ups, especially the last set of leaves, and the raindrops.

[Elaine]

Thanks, Arwen. Yes, I'm really happy to have compost, too. Only a small amount & the material is breaking down slowly, but it smells earthy and fresh.