How permies.com works
What is a Mother Tree ?
Never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world, Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. Formerly pa_friendly_guy_here
Life that has a meaning wouldn't ask for its meaning. - Theodor W. Adorno
The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. - Masanobu Fukuoka
.
soil wrote:
imo it depends on how badly the soil was managed, and how you plan to restore it. but there is hope.
i have turned some VERY bad soil into fertile life giving goodness in 2 years. eventually the worms will return all by themselves. its amazing how worms can find fertile soil somehow, even though they live in a vast ecosystem and they move very slow. i did an experiment where i only restored a 2x2x2 area in the middle of a biologically dead field, not a single worm to be found and i looked for a good while. within a month worms moved in and were flourishing, even though there was a huge area of "dead zone" in all directions surrounding the test plot. still curious as to where they came from and how they found that sweet spot.
back to the soil restoration, what materials do you have available to you, oh and how much area are we talking?
The Earth Garden
Gardening and environmental forum
The Natural Order
Environment, permaculture, and related videos
Nathan Johns wrote:To the member who recommended digging up healthy dirt and spreading it out I think compost tea would serve a similar purpose and would be easier to do en masse rather than moving lots of soil everywhere and breaking your back for it.
Life that has a meaning wouldn't ask for its meaning. - Theodor W. Adorno
soil wrote:
i
i have turned some VERY bad soil into fertile life giving goodness in 2 years. eventually the worms will return all by themselves. its amazing how worms can find fertile soil somehow, even though they live in a vast ecosystem and they move very slow. i did an experiment where i only restored a 2x2x2 area in the middle of a biologically dead field, not a single worm to be found and i looked for a good while. within a month worms moved in and were flourishing, even though there was a huge area of "dead zone" in all directions surrounding the test plot. still curious as to where they came from and how they found that sweet spot.
Nathan Johns wrote:
I agree with this. No need to buy expensive worms - it's just a waste of money really. To the member who recommended digging up healthy dirt and spreading it out I think compost tea would serve a similar purpose and would be easier to do en masse rather than moving lots of soil everywhere and breaking your back for it.
.
Pam wrote:
Could you give some specific on how you did this? I am still of two minds whether or not to take this stuff..some chemicals don't exactly disperse as quickly as they are claimed to do..and if they will simply filter through instantly then I have to consider what I might be doing to the groundwater.
.
Paul Cereghino- Ecosystem Guild
Maritime Temperate Coniferous Rainforest - Mild Wet Winter, Dry Summer
My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!
I knew I would regret that burrito. But this tiny ad has never caused regrets:
A PDC for cold climate homesteaders
http://permaculture-design-course.com
|