John Salmon

Joseph Lofthouse wrote:
I am on the show-restraint side of things. Because I don't know what poisons my neighbors applied to their properties. I don't know how many of those poisons I'll be eating if I add the leaves to my garden. So for me, the math works out as follows: It's better to have a garden with lower fertility than risk poisoning myself. My world view is tarnished because I worked for two decades as a chemist, and much of my work involved studying pesticide residues.

Thanks for the response. My neighborhood is very shaded with mature trees, not a lot of chemicals going into the sparse lawns.

Greetings from Greensboro, NC:

It is the season to rake leaves to the curb and let the city vacuum them up to their commercial composting business. Just on my block, there are so many leaves, some already mulched and the rest either bagged or in huge piles. I have a compost heap/pile mixed with greens and browns. I want to develop a leaf mold area.

How much is too much when it comes to gathering this free and abundant resource? My garden is currently 12 feet by 50 feet and I am planning to develop a permaculture area in the surrounding portions of my lot.

What do you think, get as much as possible for the future or show some restraint?

Thanks,

John

Hello,

Greeting from Greensboro, NC, the center of the Piedmont! I am re-starting my first year backyard garden after many failures. (Learning Experiences) My question concerns deep mulching, rather it be Ruth Stout, Back to Eden or whatever practice is to be used. My soil is comparable to my area, mainly clay with a thin layer of topsoil. My question, is deep mulching that important to new gardens?

I have access to new and aged wood chips, finished compost and a limited amount of goat/chicken manure. I also have been collecting fall leaves and grass clippings from the neighborhood. (Pesticide free)  My garden area is fairly shaded which I hope to trim a few trees to provide more sunlight and to keep the trees healthy.

My goal is to have a small vegetable garden, be organic as possible so I may have a place for exercise and peace. My secondary goal is to have fresh and healthy produce.

Thanks in advance,
John