Here's the answer to last week's question - True or False - 'Soil ' is just a fancy word for dirt.
False. To the organic gardener, soil is a complex stew of rock, sand, silt, clay, air, water, dead organic matter, and many living things including roots, insects, bacteria, and fungi - not to mention the earthworms, reptiles, and mammals it may harbor.
The organic gardener's foremost task is to make good soil. As the saying goes, "Feed the soil; the soil will feed the plants."
A given volume of soil should be equal parts solids and space. The solid half's content should be 90% mineral - sand, silt, and clay - and 10 percent organic matter (that's 5 % of total soil volume). The space half should hold equal parts air and water.
(Answer from Sierra Club's The Earth-Friendly Garden Knowledge Cards.)
Now for the third and final question of the month and this one will make you think a little more.
What are nematodes, and do you want them in your garden?
Remember to reply through the comments section below. Next week, I will reveal the winner who answered all three questions correctly and who was the first one with the answers.
Wishing you a happy and safe New Year celebration!
The Garden Goddess
http://www.down2earthgardens.com/
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3 comments:
Is that a trick question? There are different kinds of nematodes. They are parasitic micro organisms. Some of them feed on the larvae of garden pests like flies, grubs, and fleas, so we want those in our garden. Other types of nematodes will damage the roots of some vegetables, so we don't want those kinds!
Happy New Year!
I have to agree with Judy. We have good ones & we have bad ones. One just needs to be able to recognize the difference plus the evidence of both types. Sort of like the good and bad (or perhaps I should say beneficial & non-beneficial bacteria). Been too busy getting ready for the parade and just remembered that I had not looked up this week's question.
Hey Judy - Congratulations! please drop me an email at doreen dot pollack at gmail dot com with your mailing address so I can send your books to you!
Thanks, Doreen
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