Be kind and good to your soil...it will pay you back!

Simple rule. Be good to your soil, and it will take care of your plants, and in turn, take care of you.  Soil is your single most important asset in the garden, and over time it will continue to improve so long as you continue to 'be good'.

Here is a soil fact: Soil is an entire community. In one tablespoon of soil there are 400 million microscopic creatures.  Plants have symbiotic relationship with microbes.  Plants release 25-50% of their liquid each day into the soil in the form of protein and sugar. The intent is to attract microbes that feed on the liquid and which in turn feed the plants. 

Here are three things you can do to build good soil:

1. DON'T WALK ON YOUR SOIL.  Good soil structure allows adequate amounts of air and water to be stored in the soil so the plant roots can access it.  When you walk on it, you destroy this framework and only time can restore it.

2. FEED YOUR SOIL- with organic ammendments like compost.  Best to do this each growing season.  For every six inches of compost you apply to the top, you compost down into the existing soil 2 inches.  A marriage of two microbial communities!.  Compost tea and other organic mixes can be used to liquid feed your crops throughout the growing season.

3. ROTATE your crops so that you manage depletion of nutrients and the life cycle of certain bugs.  Heavy feeders should be moved around the garden so that the soil is allowed to replenish itself.     Heavy feeders include tomatoes, melons, corn, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, eggplant, and squash.