Often overlooked, great dirt is really the foundation of a great garden, but creating it is as much art as it is science! Unless you purchase property that already has well loved and maintained gardens, you can bet that you will spend much of your first years building delightful soil for your fruits, vegetables and flowers.
There are many ways to build great dirt, but most involve and investment of some sort. Either time or money is usually going to be required, but don’t despair! It is much easier than it sounds!
Our gardens are what I would classify as a work in progress. I have several gardening styles at my house, and I love them all for various reasons!
First, I have my square foot garden beds. These fell into the category of faster, but more expensive. I basically built these beds just as stated in the Square Foot Gardening Book by Mel Bartholomew. *affiliate link* Because I was in a hurry to get started, and because I had gardened like this when I lived in a subdivision, I went out and bought the wood, peat moss, vermiculite, and some of the compost required to get me up and running with these beds. It wasn’t cheap, but I did have great results from the first planting.
As much as I love my square foot garden, I also keep a row garden each year. The row garden is where I plant things like corn, beans, and the massive sunflowers that make me obscenely happy!)
I do really enjoy the row garden, but I have found it to have more of a learning curve for me. Everything you read has different instructions. Plow. Don’t plow. Weed. Don’t weed. Mulch. OK, almost everything says to mulch, but of course no one can really agree on what to mulch with. Last year I discovered the Ruth Stout No-Work Garden Book, *affiliate link* which I found delightful, but I was a little late to implement many of her ideas.
This year I have discovered a new gem. It is called The Art of Gardening: Building Your Soil by Susan Vinskofski. *affiliate link* I am being very honest when I say that I have never seen an e-book this beautiful. I would love a print copy for my coffee table. (If I owned a coffee table, that is.) It is beautifully illustrated throughout and in addition to the solid information on soil building, it contains an alphabetical listing of vegetables with growing and harvesting information for each one. There are even recipes included in the back!
Susan has been kind enough to give me a coupon code for y’all to use through tomorrow (4/10/2014) for $5 off. Use the code SPECIAL at checkout.
Oh, and P.S. the beautiful artwork from the book is available for purchase from the artist’s Etsy shop. I’m a little obsessed with the Swiss Chard painting. Divine!
So, how is the soil where you live? What are you doing to make it better?
If you like this post, you might also like my “Garden Fresh Gardening” Pinterest Board. And of course, don’t forget to sign up for Beulah’s Moooooooosletter. You won’t be sorry, cow’s are funny!
***This post contains affiliate links. A small percentage of the purchase price goes toward keeping this blog up and running and food in Beulah’s bucket, so thanks!***
Basicly I use the Ruth Stout method because I have 3 acres of grass and no animals right now.
I also make compost with some assistance from the worms.
How is that method working for you? Well? I’m in a transitioning phase, but I’m heading that way. And now I’m singing “I get by with a little help from my worms” in my head. 😉 Have a great day, and thanks for reading!
You are so right your dirt has so much to do with how your plants will grow. I am new to your blog and found it through the hop. So glad I did!
Welcome! I’m glad you found me!
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