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06-12-2003, 05:05 PM

writes:
[snip]

If I were to try loosening one acre of clay I would probably start by
getting a few loads of free woodchips or leaves from the utilities,
and spread it six inches thick in the fall. I would maybe mix in grass
clippings on part of the area to see whether that helps (not for
nutrients but to speed decay and feed earthworms. They need nitrogen
too). Next I would make sure that there are earthworms every few feet
or so to speed colonization (they don't migrate much by themselves,
and if the soil was degraded they would not be there). In the spring
(or summer if the mulch is still too heavy) I would try a variety of
crops that are known to help break the ground: clover or other green
manure, mache, chicory, potatoes, you name it, and see what works
best. The next year I would use what worked best, and perhaps start
adding nutrient-rich matter, such as manure. One would still have to
occasionally plant a cover crop to keep the soil loose.

The very best single thing you could do is to get loads of manure (horse
is best, but cattle is also really good) and spread it as thick as you
can. If it is mixed with straw, that is even better. What I get is
already aged enough that it is filled with earthworms; if you are that
lucky, all the better because that gives you the best combination you can
possibly have.

Ideally, you'd add both the manure and more organic matter. If you do
spread all this six inches thick (manure and chips/other organic) as
suggested above, you should be well on the way to the best soil you can
imagine. Keep in mind that the earthworms are going to be doing the bulk
of your work, though all the other critters certainly do their share as
well. Organic (manure and vegetative) and earthworms are the key.

If you are lucky enough to have a stable near you, you will likely find
the owners will be very happy to find someone to take the manure and
bedding. Many have equipment to load it for you; even if they don't
charge, it would be appropriate to give something for the gas for the
equipment. We live in the Portland, Oregon, area where they sell dump
truck loads of "zoo doo" . . .
"ZooDoo is available for your yard or garden! The Oregon Zoo and **** ***
Landscape Supplies are selling commemorative ZooDoo. Each dump-truck load
can be delivered to the anyone's home, garden, or farm and contains some
genuine Packy poop."
What a campaign! Get rid of your waste and get paid for it. For those of
you who may not know, Packy is the zoo's lifelong and famous elephant,
born there. The zoo is famous for its elephant herd and many subsequent
births. (Haven't tried "zoodoo" but might this next year depending on
what happens with the horse manure source and hauling.)

You might be surprised at what you will find available once you start
searching. Be sure not to overlook the obvious; I walked into the
mechanic's office one day to pick up my car and realized they had horses
(it finally clicked!) and was able to haul beautiful fertilizer a much
shorter distance than I had planned for steer manure. Better yet, this
particular source was extra rich and was supplemented with oak leaves from
nearby trees and, best of all, dozens (or hundreds!) of earthworms in
every shovelful. As long as there are horses and cattle around, there
will be ample fertilizer. Since most people take top care of their herds
(one animal or many), the end product is quite nutritious (soil speaking)
with all the grain and good quality hay/grass that goes in the front end.

Happy shoveling.

Glenna