interesting things I've learned with a shovel

I used to think of shovels as simply tools for moving things like dirt, compost, or mulch. While that's true, I've also learned that my shovel is an invaluable learning tool. It's my first tool for soil analysis. A carefully removed shovel depth of soil tells me how deep the topsoil is, texture, structure, color, current root depth, and the presence of organisms and organic matter.

1st soil analysis tool

By removing samples in various places, I can somewhat map out what's going on under the soil surface.

When I chose a potential place for a forest garden, I took my shovel and starting poking around. I discovered all kinds of interesting things. One, was an area of the deepest, darkest topsoil I've seen on our place so far.

My topsoil is usually a light sandy brown, so this was a real treat to find.

I also discovered another spot that was apparently used the builder's dumping ground.

Under the fallen leaves was a large area of builders sand and buried bricks.

Another buried find.

And another.

It was like going on an archaeological dig in my own backyard!

The other interesting thing I found there was an underground hole.

Underground hole. I tried filling it with water but never found a 'bottom.'

We have one of these at the back of our carport. There's a hole there that seems to have no bottom, no matter how much we poke around or how much water we try to fill it with.

More recently, I found what I think is another clue. Downhill from that underground hole in the forest garden, I planted a couple of quince trees. It had rained a few days previously, so I wondered if a few small trench-like swales would help retain water for them. So I started to dig. What I discovered, was water seeping through the ground to and filling my trench. I moved downhill and dug another.

Underground water filling my trench.

It filled fast enough to make water rings.

What I'm learning, is that these trenches retain water for weeks after a rain, especially the top one. My large garden swale, on the other hand, drains out in about two days.

Now, we're thinking that the area with the underground water seepage would be a good place to put a pond. It's not the place we would have chosen, but if that's what the land wants to do, we need to cooperate!

Does anyone else do interesting things with a shovel?

That looks like a nice shovel, deeper than the average shovel, huh?  
I keep intending to buy myself another shovel ... but can't decide what kind.   Or maybe it's called a "spade."  
I keep looking at the new-ish kind of shovels that are shaped oddly (to me) and can even cut through roots, but I'm getting old-ish and need something that I can use with only MODERATE STRENGTH.  For instance:
https://www.amleo.com/leonard-trenching-shovel-with-5-inch-wide-blade/p/ATS5

I hardly even use my one shovel (rounded pointed blade).  Where I live (Ozarks) my favorite tool is a mattock with a hoe blade on one side, and a pick on the other;  I've gotten to the point that I shift from one side to the other automatically, via intuition.  

Nice you found the area where builders left a bunch of sand and old bricks, looks like?
One time I found a ROCK split in half with a hole in it in the exact shape of a screw.  But I lost it.
We have lots of fossils around here, too.  
Somebody on here had written a post about having "young rocks," which I really like the sound of;  with a lot of clay and karst here, I find lumps of clay bonded together and ALMOST like rock.  I really like that phrase, "young rocks."  Digging in the dirt, I say that a lot, "young rocks!"  

So do you think the water coming up where you were planting quince is some kind of spring?

Jenn Lumpkin wrote:deeper than the average shovel, huh?

The girth of such a shovel makes me uneasy. It's truly a unit.

I've never seen soil like this living in Florida... Looks remarkable. I've dug probably 8 feet down and it's exactly the same as what's above it, pure, unadulterated, dry sand.

Jenn Lumpkin wrote:That looks like a nice shovel, deeper than the average shovel, huh?

Jenn, it's called a sharpshooter. It goes deep without tearing up too much soil. We like to use it for digging up sapling trees growing in the garden.

So do you think the water coming up where you were planting quince is some kind of spring?

I was hoping so, but now that summer is here and it's been hot and dry, the water is gone.

Jeff Steez wrote:I've never seen soil like this living in Florida... Looks remarkable. I've dug probably 8 feet down and it's exactly the same as what's above it, pure, unadulterated, dry sand.

Jeff, you're right about Florida soil, pure sand! I live farther north in the middle southeast, and we have a sandy loam topsoil with a heavy red clay subsoil. Not a lot of organic matter, however. We've don'e a lot of cover cropping and green manuring since that photo was taken, so one of these days I need to take another sample (and hope for improvement!)