[Community_garden] How/whether to prevent leaching into sandy soil

[Mike McGrath]

Vinnie is right on target--and let me assure him that all the experts I 
consulted while writing my recent book on composting felt that the yard 
waste compost he mentions is the absolute best kind to obtain in bulk.
                                            ---Organic Mike McG

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vinnie Bevivino" <bevivino at umd.edu>
To: <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 12:21 PM
Subject: [Community_garden] How/whether to prevent leaching into sandy soil


> Not to just repeat what everyone is saying, but adding organic matter
> has two effects on sandy soil.  First, it will increase water
> retention which is very much needed with sandy soil.  Your winters
> are wet but if you have dry summers, then you'd have to irrigate way
> too often to keep the soil wet.  Organic matter acts like a sponge
> that holds water.  Second, it will add nutrients to your soil, if
> done correctly.  And this is where I want to add to the
> conversation.  Some people suggested adding any organic matter you
> can get your hands on, even wood chips and mulch and this such.
> While this is great, you have to understand a sliver of microbiology
> to understand the proper rations of green wastes (leaves, succulent
> plants, kitchen waste, things like that) and brown organic matter
> (wood).  Adding too much wood waste can decrease your fertility.
>
> So, go find a pamphlet somewhere or a website about proper
> composting, and the nitrogen to carbon rations.  Its some simple
> stuff, but will be the difference between stunted growth and big
> green plants.
>
> At the Master Peace Community Garden, where I work, we built the
> garden by spreading out 60 yards of municipal compost, made from
> composted leaves and yard waste.  While not ideal (there was probably
> a lot of wood in that), its okay because a) is really cheap, b) its
> composted already so there isn't much of a fertility issue, and c) is
> adding organic matter to our very sandy eastern Maryland coastal
> soils.  That with regular mulching, and a whole lot of it, has made
> some nice dark soil in one year.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Vinnie Bevivino
> Community Garden Educator
> The Engaged University
> Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program
> University of Maryland
>
> The Center for Educational Partnership
> 6200 Sheridan Street
> Riverdale, MD 20737
> 301-405-0656
>
>
>
>
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