Gardeners know that this is the perfect time of year for planning. It is when we get out notes detailing the garden's past productivity while pouring over seed catalogs that show opportunities for the next year. It is important to do this reflection and planning now. There is not much else going on in the garden that needs tending. It's the time for the soil to rest and rejuvenate, while the planning gets the new garden off to a great start.
We've been doing a lot of reading on how to build the soil and keep the minerals in balance so that we grow nutrient dense plants. After just two growing seasons on this land we realize that it will take a few more seasons to get the soil in tip top shape so patience is in permanent practice here! It still surprises me that my nutrition education so closely parallels the lessons learned in the gardening research. Who knew that the chemistry I so detested in high school would come so easily to my mind now. I guess I needed the right motivation to link the science of it all to the physical outcome in my garden.
What I'm reading now:
The Intelligent Gardener - Growing Nutrient Dense Food
by Steve Solomon with Erika Reinheimer (New Society Publishers, www.newsociety.com)
Starting with an overview of nutrient density, the history of organic agriculture and an accessible primer on basic soil chemistry, this comprehensive manual demonstrates how the home gardener can use the results of an inexpensive soil test to create their own individually tailored soil prescription. The author systematically demystifies the replacement of a wealth of essential minerals while simultaneously debunking much of the false and misleading information perpetuated by both the conventional and organic agricultural movements.
Rich in historical information, this book is a compelling read for anyone at all interested in growing their own food. It also has an extensive bibliography to utilize and reference charts to make the calculations easy to understand and implement.
We've been doing a lot of reading on how to build the soil and keep the minerals in balance so that we grow nutrient dense plants. After just two growing seasons on this land we realize that it will take a few more seasons to get the soil in tip top shape so patience is in permanent practice here! It still surprises me that my nutrition education so closely parallels the lessons learned in the gardening research. Who knew that the chemistry I so detested in high school would come so easily to my mind now. I guess I needed the right motivation to link the science of it all to the physical outcome in my garden.
What I'm reading now:
The Intelligent Gardener - Growing Nutrient Dense Food
by Steve Solomon with Erika Reinheimer (New Society Publishers, www.newsociety.com)
Starting with an overview of nutrient density, the history of organic agriculture and an accessible primer on basic soil chemistry, this comprehensive manual demonstrates how the home gardener can use the results of an inexpensive soil test to create their own individually tailored soil prescription. The author systematically demystifies the replacement of a wealth of essential minerals while simultaneously debunking much of the false and misleading information perpetuated by both the conventional and organic agricultural movements.
Rich in historical information, this book is a compelling read for anyone at all interested in growing their own food. It also has an extensive bibliography to utilize and reference charts to make the calculations easy to understand and implement.
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