S Haas

Reviving this thread...

Does anyone have cuttings in the Los Angeles area? If so, I’d be happy to trade for cuttings or seeds from my own garden.

Thanks!

Hi. I live in MidCity in Los Angeles. I have been reading about permaculture for years and am finally taking on a project to slowly convert our front and back yards into a permaculture food forest to maximize food production, support pollinators, conserve water, and provide a green oasis in the city.

I am realizing that for all the reading I do and all the videos I watch, nothing can replace the value of in-person learning. I would love to connect with people close by with permaculture experience. I am happy to help out on others’ projects whenever and however I can and would love to build like-minded community here in the LA area.

If this sounds interesting to you, let me know. I look forward to meeting you!

Hello again!

One more question: if I want to incorporate the remaining large pile of this "nursery mix" into a lasagna mulching option for my dead-grass-covered yard, would you suggest using it as a top layer like mulch, or a layer further down in the "lasagna" closer to the existing soil (the way you would in a hugelkultur?

Thanks!

Hi All!

Thank you for your replies. This is very helpful information, indeed.

Just to be sure I understand, can you let me know what the "dirt" from a garden store might be called when sold in bags?

Also, would it be any help to add pearlite or coco coir to this mix?

Thanks!

Hi All!

I am relatively new to the world of permaculture (and gardening in general). Last season (spring), I built several large raised beds (3ft x 6 ft x 2 ft) that are elevated from the ground. I ordered 6 cubic yards of what I thought would be great soil from a local soil company and had it delivered by dump truck. This was obviously going to be more than I needed for the raised beds, but I thought it best to have more great soil than less.

The soil was called "nursery mix" and they tell me it is comprised of 50% nitro humus, 20% compost, 20% wood fines, 10% sand. The wood fines especially make it a very "coarse" feeling soil. I have attached a photo of the dry soil.

I filled the raised beds and several large pots with the soil and planted several summer veggies (tomatoes, peppers, melons, summer squash, scarlet runner beans, green beans) — some from seed, some from starts which I started from seed indoors.

Initially, things looked good, but very quickly, as the summer grew hotter, all of the plants grown in these beds suffered. I watered daily. But the plants browned easily, seemed more susceptible to pests, and were quite spindly. I tried various organic fertilizers, but none of the plants ever developed as I would expect. Then I planted a couple starts of tomatoes and peppers in new pots (this time filled with a potting mix amended with homemade compost). These plants have all grown quickly, with lush foliage, and healthy fruit set. The only distinct difference is the soil.

SO... I am trying to assess what may be going wrong with the soil I purchased. My best guess is that the soil is not retaining moisture and when I water, most is just running down and out through the bottom of the beds. I am watering by hand with a hose fitted with a sprayer.

Does anyone have a guess as to what might be happening? And any suggestions for ways to amend this container soil to improve the chances of my fall vegetables planted in the same containers?

Also, I have several cubic yards of the soil left. What suggestions do you have for it's best use, if not containers?

Thank you all for your help!!!

Best,
S