Soil Testing

Garden Soil Test 

  We have noticed in our yard that we have what appears to be very good, fertile soil. We don't have any issues with things growing in our yard, we have tons of worms, but our plants will flower, and never produce any fruit, or veggies!  We know that means something is off in the soil.

 So, we decided to run a few tests on the soil, in order to determine what could be missing in the equation.  We purchased a tester from Lowe's that will analyze the conditions of the soil. The kit was around $10. Here are the results.

Heart garden soil test 

Soil ph... 7

Nitrogen... low

Potassium... medium

Phosphorus... medium

Now that we know our soils nitrogen is low we can increase it in one or more of the following ways.

Ways to raise nitrogen

Nitrogen fixing plants

Organic fertilizers, fish emulsion

Compost

Composted manure

Green mulch

Tomato garden soil test

Soil ph... 7

Nitrogen... Low/med

Potassium... High

Phosphorus... Low

Now that we have this handy information we can increase the phosphorus by adding rock phosphate.

Yummy fruits and veggies soon to come!

WILD AND RAW EDIBLE WEEDS

 5 Edible Weeds You Can Eat Raw

  It's very exciting to learn of all the edible plants that grow wild all around us.  Get yourself a field guide and go on some local herb walks with someone that can identify and soon you will see everything around you as nutritious food and necessary medicine.

 Here are 5 weeds that are edible in their raw state.  Be absolutely sure that you have identified them with certainty before eating.

 

Chickweed-leaves and stems

 

Food Forest Layers

Food Forest Layers


We recently took a wonderful workshop with The Green Education Center in Orlando, to learn forest gardening, so we want to share some of the basics hoping to inspire you to build your own and share your journey doing so!

We have begun three of these gardens in our small yard.

The system of forest gardening is based on the observations of how the forest naturally grows, using this system gives you a sustainable food garden that does not need a lot of maintenance.

Intro to Adventures in Permaculture

Intro to Adventures in Permaculture

This intention of this blog is to share in the adventures of beginners living in sustainable ways.  Ways that are close to nature and do the least amount of harm. 

     My husband and I have a dream to create a forest of food in our small backyard.  We believe in simple living