05 Jul Tue 2011
Supplementing your S.Florida soil with TOP TEN Organic Ammendments-Part I
Most new comers to S.Florida productive urban farming fall into the trap of the beach sandy soil in their back and front yard.
They end up in the garden center spending fortunes on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.For those who are familiar with organic gardening the case is not so.
Recently many research studies have revealed that pesticides and chemical fertilizers are harmful for the earth soil population ,plants and humans that comnsume vegetables contaminated with synthetic chemicals.Check out the following web sites for more info about pestyicides contamination of food :
http://www.organicconsumers.org
What are the alternatives to Chemical fertilizers and pesticides?
In Europe there has been a trend to ammend the soil different than we usually do in the US.Europeans are steering clear from Genetically Modified Organisms crops and Synthetic chemicals.
Here are some suggestions of what we can use from the perspective of Organic and Bio-dynamic Natural Farming.
1) Peat Moss:Some call it Sphagnum.It is an organic matter that has a fluffy texture , perfect to hold moisture.It tends to be neutrasl slightly acidic.
2)HUMUS /Worm castings ,not just cow manure saturated with hormones-antibiotics etc
3)Shredded newspapers/papers,a good food source for worms.
4)Composted Acceptable Manures:I personally prefer to use composted horse manure and home grown FREE RANGE chiken manure.Both manures from the above are free from hormones,antibiotics and other chemical contaminents.
5)Organic Coffee /TEA Grounds:Rich in organic nitrogen.A great food source for worms.
6)COTTONSEED MEAL:Rich in organic Nitrogen-Phosphorous and Potassium.Add directly to soil.
7)Blood Meal:Rich in organic nitrogen.Add directly to compost.Add as tea or diredctly to soil
8)Bone Meal:Rich in phosphouros.Add directly to soil or as tea.
9)Fish Emulsion:Rich in organic Nitrogen.Add directly to compost or as tea to soil.Also some use as spray to deterr garden pests .
10)Alfalfa Meal:Rich in Minerals and nitrogen.Add directly to soil or as tea.
There are more INorganic Ammendments to be revealed in the following part -II .