“Let’s Get Our Hands Dirty!”

Growing winter vegetables in the winter can be.… no wait a minute. It’s spring!

What’s more, maybe you would like to grow flowers, trees or shrubs. So let’s just say that growing anything anytime in the Sandhills of North Carolina can be a challenge.

No doubt you have already decided which vegetation you want to grow for this time of year, but is your soil fertile and ready to yield results from your efforts? That’s right; your efforts, which is to say all the work you put into to your project. It better be worth it, right! Whether you are growing for pleasure or necessity let’s start from scratch. Assuming you have raised garden beds or a small green house, make sure your soil has good drainage and lots of organic matter. The more organic matter, the better the drainage and the more nutrients for your garden. Here’s a little helpful information regarding soil.

Soil should be rich in humus. Humus is made up of decomposed life such as plant and animal remains and it can be made at home, or purchased as organic fertilizer, locally by truck load or by the bag.

Earthworms, insects, bacteria, fungi, and animals use organic matter as food and break it down resulting in humus. Our little mole friends help as well. Being carnivorous, they eat the harmful insects and grubs in our lawns and gardens. They also aerate the soil nicely. Under ideal circumstances, soil should be 50% solid material, 25% air, and 25% water. (Too much sand will not retain enough moisture for the roots and too much clay will not provide sufficient drainage.) Sound too simple? It is. However, it is usually the simple and and basic concepts which are the most effective.

There is more life below the soil surface than there is above.

Fascinatingly enough, there are about 50 billion micro-organisms in

1 tablespoon of soil!

There is always so much to learn, but this is a good start. I hope I have spurred your interest!

So get your shovels out and your gardening gloves on. Invest in good tools. Keep them clean and oiled. Have fun! And remember, the moral of the story is ‘the more alive your soil is the more alive your plants will be’.

Here’s to life. Splurge on it and enjoy. May you have the best garden yet this year!