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underestimate rather than overestimate.
Mineral and organic soil amendments are different in nature than their chemical counterparts: the former feed the soil and micro-organisms which in turn feed plants, all in a time—release manner. It is a long-term approach and if done well, only minimal, if any, applications will be needed down the road. The latter group of fertilizers are quick fixes for plants, bombarding them with nutrients but depleting the soil. Excess nutrients run off into groundwater and the soil will need another round of chemicals to sustain successive crops. Being derived from chemicals used in warfare, with an addictive, pocket-emptying nature similar to drugs, I think synthetic fertilizers should be avoided in a healthy garden.
Cover crops are the frugal and soil-conscious gardeners’ best fertilizing allies, next to compost. Even if only used to cover bare soil in winter, cover crops will add organic matter and nutrients. The best covers are mixes, a legume and grass combination: fava beans or alfalfa and oats, annual rye and hairy vetch or field peas, winter wheat and mustard or fenugreek.
Peaceful Valley’s catalog has great pre-mixed cover seed and Seeds of Change sells organic green manure seed. All of these plants, plus barley make great compost builders, too. For more in depth information on cover crops, read the The Soul of the Soil/Grace Gershuny & Joseph Smillie.
If you are interested in learning about biodynamic compost making and soil treatments, I’d suggest reading Hugh Lovel’s A Biodynamic Farm; Handbook on Composting and the BD Preps/George Corrin and Biodynamic Gardening & Farming/Pfeiffer, all available through the Josephine Porter Institute For Applied Biodynamics, in Woolwine, Va. ■(540-930-2463).
Donna LaPre welcomes questions and comments and may be reached at dopray® earthlink.net or in care of the Rappahannock News, P.O. Box 59, Washington, Va. 22747.
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