Billy wrote:
songbird wrote:
Billy wrote:
...
http://puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda%20Cha...l%20Myths_file
s/Myths/Compost%20overdose.pdf
Ideal soils, from a fertility standpoint, are generally defined as
containing no more than 5% OM by weight or 10% by volume
...


bah! humbug!

You seem to be in a cranky mood. Obviously, you're not a snow bird.

more crinkly than cranky. like the tinman in Oz who
needed some oil after a rain.


The OM guide line isn't mine, so I gave its provenance. Somewhere in her
writings, Ms. Chalker-Scott notes that when you have too much organic
material in the soil, it will pollute ground water in the same fashion
as chemical fertilizers, i.e. with the release of nutrients.

it can, but remember that the OP is in upland somewhat
dry/arid climate. OM in the upper soil isn't too likely
to be leaching much of anything. more likely wind erosion
and sun baking off volatile compounds will be his losses.


some plants grow great in straight organic compost or
high organic content soils. squash, tomatoes, potatoes,
melons to name a few.

the squash we had growing this past season were planted
on top of a heap of rotting wood that was layered with a
few inches of dirt between the layers. i was hoping for
mushrooms, but it turned out too weedy and Ma decided to
cover it with carpeting (several layers) to smother the
weeds and then we cut small holes through the carpeting
and planted squash. by the end of summer we had stems
over 3 inches across and plants ranging out 20-30ft from
the holes (this was obviously not a water limited planting).

a few of the other squash plants i grew were sited on
top of gardens where 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the area below
the plant was taken up by shredded wood or bark (down
several feet). at first they grew slowly, but as the
season went on they picked up and fruited well. we had a
cold/cloudy month of June so was it that which stopped
them from growing faster or the competition for nutrients
from the decaying organic material? i couldn't say for
sure, but they did fine and produced. that is all i can
ask of a garden plant.

cheers and etc. hope y'all aren't freezing...

Yesterday, I was headed out to work when I found that the padlock on my
garage gates was frozen solid. Finally, I wrapped a tissue around it,
squirted some "guick start" on it, and stuck a match to it. A minute
later the lock was open, and my glove was on fire!(no damage) God, I
hate morning that I have to go out into. It's so cold here that the hot
air balloons have given up.

oh man! i'll admit i am laughing, but still i'd hate
that too.



Tea,
the new Kool Aid

less sugar if you can find it, it's amazing what
people are paying for tea/sweetened tea at the stores.
this is the same stuff you can make yourself for pennies
on the gallon...

cheers and i hope the cold is only temporary for you
there. it sure isn't here. this winter started much
earlier than the previous two. looks like the propane
might just squeak by at one refill this winter.


songbird