tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post6192505403011285511..comments2023-11-15T03:44:35.033-05:00Comments on Fast Grow the Weeds: A book reviewElhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14878724196098024140noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post-56161204351681501332015-07-07T00:54:58.691-04:002015-07-07T00:54:58.691-04:00http://soilsister99.blogspot.com/2012/04/garden-bo...http://soilsister99.blogspot.com/2012/04/garden-book-review-teaming-with.htmlBronchoscopehttp://www.endocorpusa.com/commerce/index.jspnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post-44918888017811325482007-02-03T07:54:00.000-05:002007-02-03T07:54:00.000-05:00Thanks, all, for your comments.
I should state ...Thanks, all, for your comments. <br /><br />I should state again that I do recommend the book, as it has a lot of things in it that I'd bet the average bear just doesn't know. <br /><br />Some have claimed the book was a bit guilt-inducing. I really don't know many gardening manuals that are not, frankly. With complete sincerity, I can claim that I was already doing the three big things (composting, mulching, making compost tea) with the exception that the tea I made was non-aerated. I'm not aiming for a gold star: I just knew that clay soil needs to get a lot of humus into it.<br /><br />As it is, I will probably not ditch the tiller I have. I really do have a lot of property, and layering new beds with mulch seems really wasteful considering all the other plants that could use it (because, as I have claimed many times, there is never such a thing as too much compost or mulch; there's such a thing as a temporary surplus only).<br /><br />As for manure in compost: I agree about being judicious, but hey, if you have a neighbor with horses and a big pile beside the barn, make friends with him/her. It's cow poop and factory-raised poultry poop you need to be concerned about. I do use my chickens' bedding, as well as the poop with some bedding from the school's sheep. Neither are fed or injected with anything wacky; the sheep don't have worms. I do wish I had a horse, or had the courage to go ask a neighbor or two ONLY because manure is great to jumpstart a cold compost heap. I do confess that I am an impatient composter, and cannot imagine waiting a year to use the stuff, but I have never ever checked the temperature of a pile with a thermometer!! I will say that the newest pile I have going out there looks like a snow-covered volcano: the top is completely clear. It's obviously hot enough so I must have done something right.<br /><br />This book didn't make me feel guilty. I immediately saw my husband doing a McGuyver thing and hooking up tubes and pumps to make tea. I understand more now about bacterial versus fungal colonies, and which plants could use which for greater happiness. I appreciate what they have to tell me. <br /><br />My only real criticism is it's geared toward suburban small-lot gardeners, and, well, I'm not; I have bigger problems based on the fact that I have a lot more land.Elhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14878724196098024140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post-74238613352256897232007-02-01T11:09:00.000-05:002007-02-01T11:09:00.000-05:00So did you like it or not :-D
By the way---I tille...So did you like it or not :-D<br />By the way---I tilled part this year and heavily mulched part. We will see and I will tell you what I think. I think the "no-till" part just means you have to wait a bit longer for soft soil but then it is very very nice. We have a spot where they dumped tree shreds 3 years ago---it's nice there now (but at the edge of the road so useless except for slight excavation purposes) So maybe 3 years from now the un tilled side will actually be the best (shrug)Dancingfarmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02542161200214992918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post-91658122379518788452007-01-31T21:27:00.000-05:002007-01-31T21:27:00.000-05:00Hi Folks,
Hope you don't mind a defense of the bo...Hi Folks, <br />Hope you don't mind a defense of the book review comments!<br /><br />1. Rototilling has no scientific basis. It was 'invented" by an English barrister who believed roots ate soil. It was a good idea to break up virgin soil of the forests when homesteading, but once the ratio of bacteria and fungi is bacterial. Simply put: it is a bad practice. Sure, you have clay...who doesn't start out having to "get a garden ready soil-wise? Putting organic material on top and even planting in that the first year or two or even three is all you need. <br /><br />The comment about men and engines made me laugh. Rototillers are like motorcycles for guys who are not allowed to ride motorcycles. It is all about power. But this is not enough to justify the carbon loss, the hydrocarbon loss and the sweat involved for a practice that simply isn't supportable. <br /> <br />As for substitute to tilling, I thought we said, drill holes, pull a board over the soil.... If you must disturb the soil do it in as small an area as possible. You don't have to plow deep if you are planting seeds or starts and you have good soil.<br /><br />When you rototill clay and organic matter you do not get as good soil as if you let nature do the work. You get patches of soil with no air or water flow. No tunnels, microscope or otherwise, to allow water and air to circulate. Sure, it can be done, but its work and the ultimate results may take 5 years, but the benefits are higher and last for the rest of the garden's life...not so with rototilling..<br /><br />Ah, but how people cling to the idea that tilling is good. It has been drummed into every organic gardener by gardening magazines whose main source of income is the ads from tiller manufacturers.<br /><br />I will reexamine the use of the word "spouse"....used, incidently, because my wife prefers the term...(I now pronounce you Man and wife was the old marriage phrase). Sorry its use was so annoying, but as you can see there was a rationale. And, if I am being honest, I may have wanted people to know that Wayne and I are not married to each other!<br /><br />As for manures, I AM an attorney, but that is not why we push our no manure bias. It is simply too risky and not necessary t use them. In addition to the many pathogens, we don't like the antibiotics, mny of which have a negative impact on the composting process. I guess I was not clear in the book.Sorry! However, if you know what you are doing when composting and keep the pile above 130 for long enough and know where you stuff comes from (ie chemical cows or organic ones), it becomes safe.....all I know is I don't want E. coli and salmonella on my compost any more than I do my spinach! <br /> <br /><br /><br />As for compost teas, making them is not for everyone. However, if you can get access to some, it is the easiest way to get biology back in the soil....I never made beer. Too much work and the wait was too long, but I can see how making teas can become a passion for some. Me? It takes me 5 minutes to start a batch...thelongest period of work is the 10minutes it takes to clean the machine! But is isn't everyone's cup of tea....<br /><br />So, my two cents. This is a neat thing about blogs.....when in history could an author try and rehabilitate his reputation so quickly.<br /><br />I don't normally read blogs, but if you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them. I would love to met you all someday!<br /><br />THANKS FOR READING TEAMING!<br />JEFF LOWENFELSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post-47791258149119980702007-01-31T20:47:00.000-05:002007-01-31T20:47:00.000-05:00I am also in the clay soil club. I suspect clay so...I am also in the clay soil club. I suspect clay soil <i>could</i> be amended by just layering organic materials and letting the microbes do their thing, but it would take too long. That wonderful old-growth forest humus isn't created in a year, or five years.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11106962533729909868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post-27090478282244712562007-01-30T12:06:00.000-05:002007-01-30T12:06:00.000-05:00"This is also the time I took up with a chainsaw."..."This is also the time I took up with a chainsaw."<br /><br />*GRINS*<br /><br />Let me know when you start welding, I may have a few garden arches for you to do up for me!!!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17863446408320265707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post-77311924372649036232007-01-30T10:28:00.000-05:002007-01-30T10:28:00.000-05:00Meredith, what is it with men and the small intern...Meredith, what is it with men and the small internal combustion engine? My husband showed zero signs of being a gearhead until we moved here. I will probably still use the tiller to make new beds (once they're made, I have no need to retill). Do check out the book. Aerated compost tea is what they recommend, mainly to get the critters down into the ground (without tilling).Elhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14878724196098024140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post-6501603964864361442007-01-30T10:18:00.000-05:002007-01-30T10:18:00.000-05:00Soil is endlessly interesting. Doing what I do, I...Soil is endlessly interesting. Doing what I do, I have a close realtionship with the soil, examining it for hydric characteristics. I've seen blue soil, grey soil, black soil and white soil. Not only do they look different, but they smell different too. I'll check out my library and see if they have this book. I'd love to learn more, especially about compost tea. Never tried that. As for the tiller thing, well I think the husband would cry if I said no more spring tilling. He loves it so.meresy_ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01586109095715179608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post-12860998935324194202007-01-30T09:32:00.000-05:002007-01-30T09:32:00.000-05:00Great post. I was thinking the same thing about th...Great post. I was thinking the same thing about the whole "no dig/no tiller" thing. I don't have a tiller, but whenever I have to make a new bed, I have to double dig to get anything even remotely workable out of my crappy clay soil. And I was actually wondering how you would respond to the "no manure" thing...I'm glad you did. I thought the same thing.<br /><br />Oh, and I loved this:<br />"(Granted, I was a breastfeeding stay-at-home mother at that time so I felt my yin was way off my yang and I needed a butch-ifying outlet. This is also the time I took up with a chainsaw. But enough about me.)"<br /><br />Oh, I have SO been there! The first spring after Sarah was born I was out there chopping down a badly placed maple. I think it was a seedling that the former homeowner just left there. Granted, it wasn't a huge tree...maybe 15 feet tall, but it was oh-so-satisfying to hack it down!<br /><br />Have a great day!Colleen Vanderlindenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08396040906688814232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31401979.post-21542040543824242422007-01-30T05:50:00.000-05:002007-01-30T05:50:00.000-05:00Up early, checking for your review... very interes...Up early, checking for your review... very interesting, especially coming from someone as organic as you. Watch for the post late this evening with the round up of all reviews. Thanks for participating!Carol Michelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796344366326535406noreply@blogger.com