Microbes...you gotta see this one !!!

sanderson wrote:60 years ago, you were busy being a young man with no time.

yes yes...quite the difference between a full of life young man...and a full of life old man.
Honestly, I couldn't tell you which one I prefer...I'll just take what's given to me and enjoy it all.

sanderson wrote:60 years ago, you were busy being a young man with no time.

And I was being a young women with no time and little thought.
You know, boys.   Well, one boy.

As I wrote on our Canadian Regional thread I went out and did an hours weeding, the first time this year. It's lovely getting one's fingers in the dirt once again.

Anyway, I had a go at the creeping buttercup that has taken a hold on some of my BTE square footage that is covered with wood chips.

These wood chips were laid down in the spring of 2014 and most of the chips were were not ramidial (cannot find the right spelling in my dictionary) but mostly pure wood from the up to five inch diameter branches from my felled birch trees. Over that summer and all last year I tried to incorporate as many nutrients as I could lay my hands on; decayed wood from my hillside, leaves, compost, coffee grounds, several harvests of comfrey leaves from my secret location, ground eggshells, etc.

Unfortunately for me, I did not do much weed pulling last year, and the growth of this creeping buttercup has taught me the lesson to get the weeding done as early in the year as possible and keep on top of it and not slack off.

Today I dug in the top couple of inches to loosen the soil,(mostly partly decomposed wood chips) and gently pulled up as many plants as possible.  I was surprised at the length of some of the roots.  All the plants had loads of roots, and some of those roots were up to eleven inches long with the prize being taken by an apparently small plant that had several roots up to sixteen inches long.  Naturally as I pulled some of the plants broke off and therefore broken roots were left in the ground, no doubt to carry on. I intend to get out this year and do at least fifteen minutes of dedicated weeding each possible day. Last year, in spit of not very much rain, I was overwhelmed by the weeds.

With my new knowledge of the soil from this book we are reading, I half-recognised the changes, grey stuff and loads of worms scurrying away from my depredations of their home.  I thought of all the exudates from the roots feeding all these little creatures in the soil and I am excited to see if my blueberries, garlic, tulips and daffodils show any improvements over last years efforts.

I skipped ahead to the lawn section. We have dollar spot fungus and it recommended building the bacterial load. So, I made some fresh compost tea and sprayed the front lawn. I'll sow the bare spots and cover with screened compost. Maybe some milk and molasses before the heat. But, I will keep up the compost tea spraying, like every other week? and see if we can't beat this fungus. Maybe even convince husband that this year he can cut and drop the lawn clippings as this is the year of bacteria. I have hope.

sanderson wrote:60 years ago, you were busy being a young man with no time.

Youth is wasted on the young. Mark Twain

Scorpio Rising wrote:

sanderson wrote:60 years ago, you were busy being a young man with no time.

Youth is wasted on the young.  Mark Twain

This may be true, however
                                          Mark Twain did not have as much fun as I had growing up !!!!!!

somehow Jimmy, I know that is a definite possibility!

Just got an email from my public library stating that the "Teaming with Microbes" book that I had requested is ready for pickup.

With your inquiring mind you are going to enjoy this book, TD.

I have one more chapter to read then I will be able to start on Part 2, "Applying Soil Food Web Science to Yard and Garden Car".

It is well worth reading Part 1 thoroughly before starting on the garden itself.

I finished mine last night.  I learned lots, and it kinda turned my li'l chick pea brain to hummus.


I was glad to read how they feel about manure.  I was beginning to think I was the only one in the world who felt that way.

Can't wait for Teaming with Nutrients to come in to my library!

CC

Now the suspense about "how they feel about manure" is killing me....nice tickler, CC! Lol

I bought the Teaming With Microbes book and the Rodale Composting book a long time ago when I first started SFG.  They were so packed with so much information I easily became overloaded with information.  After I retire again (hopefully in two weeks) I will take the time to read them.  Now that I have more experience and knowledge I am sure I will be able to get something worthwhile out of these two books this time.

CapeCoddess wrote:I finished mine last night.  I learned lots, and it kinda turned my li'l chick pea brain to hummus.


I was glad to read how they feel about manure.  I was beginning to think I was the only one in the world who felt that way.

Can't wait for Teaming with Nutrients to come in to my library!

CC

That was an interesting view, CC.

yolos wrote:I bought the Teaming With Microbes book and the Rodale Composting book a long time ago when I first started SFG.  They were so packed with so much information I easily became overloaded with information.  After I retire again (hopefully in two weeks) I will take the time to read them.  Now that I have more experience and knowledge I am sure I will be able to get something worthwhile out of these two books this time.

I suggest you read one chapter at a time, then put the book down to think about it, or maybe read it twice.  Slowly.    Worked for me.

I'm almost finished. What is amazing to me is that Mel's Mix parallels natural soils - good for all of the organisms found in nature. I can't wait until everyone is finished and we can hold a "book club."

sanderson wrote:I'm almost finished.  What is amazing to me is that Mel's Mix parallels natural soils - good for all of the organisms found in nature.  I can't wait until everyone is finished and we can hold a "book club."

Hi Sanderson
Do you think microbes may be a good section in the forums ? Like along side pests  and disease under the SFG title ?
Nothing has inspired me as much as this book since I read the SFG book 4 years ago.
As you mention above, it all fit right in...I'm sure I'll have questions as I read the book over and over, a forum with that topic might be able to help those who haven't read the book.
Just a thought...

Helpful Critters? Need to think about this. Maybe as a sticky, at least I think that is what it is called. I'll research. Otherwise, not everyone is interested in microbiology, they just know that SFG works and quality compost is so important.

Some questions for our future discussion:
Q: why is vermiculite so important in MM?
Q: which is more important in raised veggie beds, bacteria or fungi?

Why don't we just keep all conversation about the microbes to this thread?  Works for me.

My guesses:
1) Moisture retainer
2) Bacteria

CC

I was just throwing out these questions in advance!

I picked up the Teaming with Microbes book at my public library around 11:30 am. Came home and had lunch and now I am about one-third of the way through reading the book. Quite interesting.

sanderson wrote:  Helpful Critters?    Need to think about this.  Maybe as a sticky, at least I think that is what it is called.  I'll research.  Otherwise, not everyone is interested in microbiology, they just know that SFG works and quality compost is so important.

Some questions for our future discussion:
Q:  why is vermiculite so important in MM?
Q:  which is more important in raised veggie beds, bacteria or fungi?

  1st answer.....because Mel says it is...LOL...seriously tho, holds moisture and helps maintain mix friability
If I remember correctly they are both as important,

Sanderson, good ideas above. your very sensible.

CapeCoddess wrote:Why don't we just keep all conversation about the microbes to this thread?  Works for me.

My guesses:
1) Moisture retainer
2) Bacteria

CC

+1

CapeCoddess wrote:Why don't we just keep all conversation about the microbes to this thread?  Works for me.

My guesses:
1) Moisture retainer
2) Bacteria

CC

Fungi for trees, shrubs, perennials.

Yes, I think a thread on all these small creatures would be a good one.

I just finished reading the "Teaming with Microbes" book. Except for the tongue twisting scientific names it was a fairly easy read. There is definitely a ton of information provided in the book. I learned a lot of new things. Will I apply the suggestions to my own garden (veggies, flowers, trees/bushes, lawn)?  Yes and No. I don't think I will be sending soil samples out for biological analysis. For fun I may do some of my own testing per the instructions in the book. I certainly can use some of the advice on composting, compost tea, mulching, etc. In my regular soil veggie garden (that which is not converted to SFG) I will try to apply the NO rototilling (or no deep digging) principle this year. The book deserves at least a second read if I have time.

Just got my book from the library yesterday. Only had time to read the forward and preface. Looking forward to getting into the meat of it.