Making your own High Grade Organic soil thread.

May 13, 2007


Today I want to show soil aggregate formation in the cooling pile I have.





At the bottom are clumps of soil. This is a natural phenomenon as fungus creates the glue that sticks the soil together.


Why is this good? Well if there are gaps in the soil roots grow easier. easier growth more roots. More roots better plant growth.


The other aspect is the fungus extends to the roots and penetrates tissue and together roots and mycorrhizae fungi form a symbiotic relationship.


The soil web is a wonderful thing..


A little background on Soil Microbes & Mycorrhizae:


So I will share a bit from "Dr. Earth"


-------------------------------------

The soil is alive! Invisible to the naked eye are the great digesters of the earth, constantly breaking down organic



material into a more usable from that plant roots can identify, absorb and ultimately incorporate for new growth.



Below our feet lie the wonders of a variety of living organisms that are hard at work converting complex organic



compounds such as, tannins, lignin's, proteins, carbohydrates, cellulose, pectin, etc. into a usable form plants



can incorporate for growth.



Microbes help to stabilize the soil by physically binding soil particles together; they release a by-product called



glomalin that acts as a “glue” to help bind mineral particles and organic material together, which contributes greatly



to soil aggregation.



All of this happening in a healthy, productive soil.




Healthy soil should contain no less than 10,000,000 bacteria per gram, the presence of microbes ensure that nutrients




are made available to plants at a steady rate.




As the plants are actively growing and require more nutrients, so do




the microbes in the soil.




As the weather warms both the plant and microbes respond at a similar rate. This is a self regulating cycle that has occurred




for millions of years.




The microbes become more active in warm weather in the soil, digesting organic materials and converting them into a




usable form plants can absorb. As the weather cools and plants require less nutrition, so do the microbes, which means




less nutrients are being released in the soil, the soil can build food reserves this way.




When we feed our plants and not our soil, we loose all the benefits that microbes contribute. When we say feed the soil it means feed the microbes in the soil because it is the microbes that make nutrients available for the plants.




The way you feed microbes is through the addition of organic material, if you feed with a synthetic chemical fertilizer you are feeding the plant, not the soil, or the microbes. By adding petrochemical synthetic fertilizer we drive up the salt index in the soil and change the pH, which can have adverse effects on plants.




More importantly chemical fertilizers only feed for a short period of time; organic fertilizers have a continual feeding because the microbes cannot digest all of the organic fertilizer overnight. With chemical fertilizers we also do not get the benefits of the microbes contribution to soil aggregation, which leads to good tilth, Water retention, the rate at which water penetrates the soil, the amount of oxygen in the soil, reduction of runoff, all can be achieved with the addition of organic material to the soil.




The importance of microbes is immeasurable, they are essential to the health of all productive soils.


Milo Lou Shammas


President/Chief Scientist


Dr. Earth Company






-------------------------------------


Here is a close up...





The aggregate soil is obvious and a wonderful sign that all the good microbe activities are happening even as the pile is still "ACTIVE"


I have seen the fungus but thought to save those observations till I was sure it was more about that good fungus that appears as white spider thread like things in the soil.


Trust me this is a great thing.


So I am happy to say that the Good Guy fungus has found an early and happy home because of the banana puree.


Word 'Nuf said.


Again I present advanced soil formations in a compost bin. Then again this is a thread about making your own high grade soil..


The Temps are on the ACTIVE side but getting lower now..


My hope is that it will have used up all the raw and abundant materials till it's a balanced and living natural soil.


And it sure looks that way.


We are on a hyper drive to a Premium soil mix here.


This brings be to ask "What are you wanting from a soil mix?"


Come on.. What concerns ya.

 

If you have room I suggest the twin bin system.


One can have a pile in one fork and scoop it over to the second bin to turn.


Some use a three bin.. where new materials get placed in the third and the finished gets it's own in the end.


I've had piles so large they needed a roto-tiller to turn.


It was the only way..


4 feet high, 6 feet wide and 15 feet long as I remember.

 

Monday May 14 2007


Well it's a mixed bag this morning,


On the one hand the temps went right to the edge of HOT and that's good. Good because the microherd is living in the right conditions.


On the other hand I see liquid dripping out and is being collected as Compost Tea in the base collector.


While this doesn't sound too bad it is a sign that water vapor doesn't escape well and is condensing in the cool of the night.


Not what I want but, then again I have said I need to modify this tumbler.


Other than that it's fine. No need for a photo today and the bulk of the mix has shrunk a little more.


Randy

 

May 15, 2007


Up again into 130 Deg F and I gave it a good turning.


It's looking good.


No need for a photo today.


I'm not sure how long this will keep up but it may last 14 days.


No excess moisture today so that's a good thing.


any questions? comments?


Randy

 

hey randy im a beginner at growing but will stick around to try to understand some of the things your going to be posted..i am a rookie but my clones are organic and i want to grow them with nothing but organic..i have them in a 1 gallon bucket now and am wondering what soil?where and what nutrients to buy?when to feed it water?how many hours sun and darkness all that...thnx 4 the help

 

Have a search of the site and I remember that the Organic Growing 101 FAQ has some suggestions.


I suggest to add alfalfa meal , azomite and some kelp meal to what you get.


It's important to feed the soil.


Do you see how I'm sharing how to manage an organic "living" soil?

 

May 16, 2007


Today I see the temperature is down a bit.


Also I noticed late yesterday an ammonia smell to it and that told me that I had excess nitrogen.


That isn't so bad, at this point in the process, since it's already cooked for a long time.


What too much nitrogen suggests to me, at this time, is that the easy carbon like the rice and coffee have been consumed and there is excess nitrogen left.


So, I need to lightly water again and turn it to see if the microherd will take off again or if it cools more.


This will be a very light watering.. Enough to add a little moisture but no too much.

 

May 17, 2007


I waited another day and this morning the temps were in the STABLE range so I added a little water and turned.


I'm thinking it will go on back up to ACTIVE because is still smell ammonia which means lots of nitrogen available still.


I'm interested in having the mix all played out because it breaks down as much material as possible and leaves the PH in the 6.8 range.


The Microherd will stabilize the PH in most cases.


So I should know tomorrow what the material can do still.


If it drops temps then it will be time to screen it and add a few new materials to this mix for a proper Organic soil mix.


You see we have a soil base with this method that is alive with microorganisms.


We will be adding material to "feed the soil."


More on that later.

 

It's ready.. May 18,2007


Hey it's a ready base soil boys and girls.


So actually the last day was yesterday but, I didn't know it until I had added some water in-order to see if that would stimulate the microherd.





This is what I am calling a base soil.


The main point to make here is that it is a soil that is ready to be fed.


A beginning of a system that lasts years.


The populations of microorganisms are still alive and active!


You see this is as Mother Nature intended but, on a turbo charge.


Here is the soil base as it looks this morning at 7 AM





And here is a close up.





Two things.


First : I am not happy with these wood shavings because there are some large pieces left. I have bought better in the past. That brand is off.


Second : it will be important to break up any coco fibers clumps.


They look like they bunch up in what reminds me of a hair-ball





I don't mind a long lasting organic material I just want it to be distributed in a uniform way in my soil so, clumps of coco choir need to be separated IMO.


I still have more to share.


For a couple of days I have to be on hold because my materials I ordered have not arrived.


So to keep the microherd active I am going to toss in a tiny bit of rice, coffee and a little alfalfa meal I have on hand.


For me, and I don't expect the reader to know this but, I feed the soil with these materials.


So I am using materials I know the microherd has already processed well.


So until tomorrow.


Randy

 

Questions and Suggestions.


Don't worry about asking questions because I will not be adding your questions and my answers to the FAQ thread.


So feel free and safe to ask whatever you like.. It's all good.


If I wish to quote you I will do so only with your permission and approval.


I believe the only "dumb" question is the one you don't ask.

 

It's a skill Mankind has depended on for thousands of years..


It's only in recent times that we are losing the passing of organic skills at the community level.


I'm happy to do my part as best as I can.


I know you are busy but I owed you a reply.


Did you already know the basics of composting ?

 

May 20, 2007


Today I added 1 cup of white rice, two cups of alfalfa meal and two cups of fresh ground coffee.


This is a hold over till I can have on hand the materials I want to add before I place this soil in the plastic pot that something will be grown in...


I was thinking catnip...


I have never grown catnip.


Honestly I have all the supply I need on hand so I don't need to grow more yet..

 

ORGANICS is the way......


lmao @ me<<<


Anyway...RANDY, ive just sat and read ther whole thread from YOU to TA to WIZZLE to HAPPYHIGHGUY and all, and this is"one" of thee most drawn to thread ive came across thus far on Growkind.com in all the time ive been here!


Totally phenominal amount of ghreatly shared knowledge with all of us you have!!!


Greatly appreciated and Learning By, by the very "FACT"!


Totally melted to the screen ive been caught up init so much...lololol


Prop's and all that bro for this peice of "work" my son...


UrBigBudie has learned a hell of alot reading and tuning into this for thee FIRST time may i admit( sorry RH..lol) But as soon as i saw it, i was drawn to it and glued to the FACTS and actions all taken out by yourself to show US all how YOU COMPOST yourself, and to me that is a GREAT thing to have bared witness to and learned from....


I Thank you.... :eusa_clap: otleaf: :idea1: :icon_thumleft: TOTALLY!


UrBigBuddie...........:sign13:


P.S all, ORGANICS is the ONLY way to be.......

 

Wow UBB & TA!


Thank you both for the kind words.


And ya know it ain't over.

 

May 21,2007


I am seeing the temps move back up to the STABLE range after adding that mix of rice, alfalfa meal and coffee.


This extends the high activity until I get the supplies I ordered.


When they arrive I will allow the mix of what I have now and what I have ordered to balance out naturally.


The population of microorganisms will decrease in relationship to the amount of carbon and nitrogen in the mix and, all in all, it will be the desired finished product.


It will be a soil base that we can start with and with some easy care we can use it for years without having to do this hard work again.


You see the magic is in the feeding of the soil. In time it builds the soil just like nature does except we control the materials that go in.


So we can add alfalfa or azomite. Maybe bone meal or any number of materials to provide for the NPK and trace + minerals,


There isn't any one correct way to feed a soil but, more on that later.


Randy

 

May 22, 2007


Today I see it is still warm in there. Right on the lower edge of active.


Still waiting for materials.


::


So, what to offer you my kind reader.


Composting is a process that nature itself does.


In it's most simple form it's happening all around us.


In every open space where living things grow in soil.


Plants grow, shed material like leaves or even the whole plant and these things build up on the tops of the soil.


In time and with the help of the micro-biology the raw materials are reduced to things that plants are able to utilize ( with the help of other micro-biology ).


When we Organic growers work with the raw materials providing them in ratios to the soil we are making possible the future well being of the plants we grow.


For example, adding bone meal will, in time, make phosphorus available but, it also adds the materials that helps a universe of microbial life to flourish.


Not that bone meal alone is the only thing we need. It's actually about providing enough material to promote a healthy balance in microbe and plant life cycles.


Sound complex?


Don't worry because Nature has worked it all out. After all we live and breath and are a part of Nature too.


A living process.


I'll pause on that point.


Maybe today the supplies will come.


Randy

 

This is why I suggest larger soil spaces and large pots.


More surface area and more microbes per whatever yr measure the better in providing for a healthy large flower bearing female.


Not that we can't get benefit from ready products; I know better because of a kind whisper from a fellow organic gardener ( I thank you friend ).


Some organic sources of nutrients are better processed on their own.


Like fish emulsion.. http://www.growkind.com/forum/showthread.php?p=237454#post237454


So I admit that there will be some liquid and or powders that will truly be organic that I cannot do with microbial decomposition in the soil as well.


Still it has to fit in with microbial life in the soil to be a healthy amendment to an organic grow.


As you and I both know balance is more than a consideration, so too the measure of materials and the husbandry of the environment..


Said in a British accent,


Randy


P.S. Did the Queen get back safe?

 

May 23, 2007


I have some sad news.. A pet guinea pig has passed away after a brief illness.


I mention "Pigger" here because he and his friends have contributed to my organic realm in a big way.


I spent quality time with Pigger weekly and often made an effort to bring home produce fit for the best of tables for he and his companion(s).


So I honor a contributor to the organic. You will be missed but mostly you will be remembered.


-----


So today I have some sadness.. However, this is for you.


I still do not have delivery of my supplies so it is all about watering the mix a bit and turning by hand and also a few turns on the wheel.


So what to chat about today? I think I'll wait for some questions.


Keep posted here.. I have a lot more to share.


Randy

 

May 25, 2007


The materials I ordered are here.


I am adding Kelp meal , Azomite and more Coffee today.





Below is the base soil before I added materials.





And at this time it's all in the mix now.


That's all I can think of.. It has it's NPK, Trace, Minor and minerals.


So it's time to let it cook some more and come to a natural end.


I'll be turning and adding water as needed.


Once the temps are low then it will be ready for plants.