Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Serpentine soils?
I just bought a house on some acres on El Dorado County, California.
What are your experiences with Serpentine soils? I am on a ridge with red soil full of green rocks. I understand Serpentine soils are high in heavy metals. ..."Food crops and livestock are susceptible to picking up and even concentrating heavy metals - a factor to consider especially if grown for consumption..." So, I am considering building raised beds and bringing in better soil for my vegetable garden. Also how concerned should I be about asbestos? Thanks, James |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Serpentine soils?
James wrote:
I just bought a house on some acres on El Dorado County, California. What are your experiences with Serpentine soils? I am on a ridge with red soil full of green rocks. I understand Serpentine soils are high in heavy metals. ..."Food crops and livestock are susceptible to picking up and even concentrating heavy metals - a factor to consider especially if grown for consumption..." So, I am considering building raised beds and bringing in better soil for my vegetable garden. Also how concerned should I be about asbestos? Thanks, James James, I wouldn't recommend that you try crushing any of the serpentinite for gravel, but otherwise I wouldn't worry too much about asbestos. The risk is in when you realease the fibres from the rock and then breath them. Red soil is a good sign: you have a lot of iron, so it should be relatively fertile. At a guess I'd say that you have a clay or clay loam soil? Either way, you should try to start with green manures to try to get organic matter into the soil. Raised beds would be a good way to go, especially if you have a lot of clay in the soil. You only need raise then 4" or so, which will reduce the amount of soil and water you need to input. Look into finding mushroom compost and using that over a layer of newspaper and then one of hay as opposed to buying soil because that should be a more economical solution, in addition to providing more fertility than bought soil. If you're having trouble thinking where to begin, you may like to try to find a copy of Rosemary Morrow's Earth User's Guide to Permaculture. This is a very user-friendly manual that will get you thinking about the best place to put things such as trees and your pond with regard to the topography and prevailing winds, and also to maximise water retention. Tara |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
At the edge of the Serpentine Barrens - DSC_3705a.jpg | Garden Photos | |||
what trees are good for moist soils? | Gardening | |||
New - amend clay/gumbo soils? (Houston, particularly) | Gardening | |||
Expanded Shale for clay/gumbo soils | Gardening | |||
Serpentine soils? | Permaculture |