Hi Kasey,
You're welcome.
You mentioned that these beds are built on an asphalt parking lot. Be aware
that a lot of heat is built up on this type of roadbed material being black and
absorbing it from the sun. You have been having trouble keeping the soil damp I
take it. This is also from heat coming up from under the beds by way of
radiating. Perhaps you would do well to cover the black surface with some kind
of organic matter like wood chips which hold moisture, lighten the surface so
it doesn't absorb as much heat, and keep some of the outgassing from the
petrochemical compounds in the asphalt from polluting the space. For the ones
that are high enough to roll a wheelchair under, this could really impact the
need for cooling down the space and lessening the amount of water needed as
well as the ability of the bed to hold onto the water you are putting into it.
I definitely would suggest you re-work the 'floor' of the higher beds so they
are water proof and insulated.
Good on using lasagna (sheet mulching) soil building techniques. Just remember
to always use untreated lumber.
Diann Dirks
Certified Permaculture Designer, Ga.
----- Original Message -----
From: Kasey Henneman
To: Diann Dirks ; K. Rashid Nuri ; Bailey, Sarah ;
community_garden@list.communitygarden.org
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 3:21 PM
Subject: RE: [Community_garden] Trouble shooting wheelchair accesible beds
Thank you everyone for your advice, I actually cut and pasted your comments
in a document to reference later.
In response to some things: I am glad someone pointed out that the bed is
evaporating from both sides, as obvious as this seems, I didn't really think of
it. I imagine this is an issue for these kinds of beds and we may just end up
pulling the soil out and replacing the bottom of the beds. The garden is placed
on top of an asphalt parking lot, this is VERY convenient for wheeling around,
but challenging for a garden, especially these roll-unders. I think you all are
right about the compost, we did purchase it from a landscape company and it may
need some additives. With access to free horse manure and leaves and spoiled
hay, we are big fans of lasagna layering our gardens. We plan on topping these
beds with some manure, and now I think we will also add some worms, and maybe
some native soil (?)(high clay). The other deeper beds, with the same compost
did great, but we will also top them with manure this season.
Thanks for all your suggestions!
Kasey
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Diann Dirks [didi...@comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 5:15 PM
To: K. Rashid Nuri; Bailey, Sarah; Kasey Henneman;
community_garden@list.communitygarden.org
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Trouble shooting wheelchair accesible beds
Exactly Rashid,
I think the thing that happens a lot is that people purchase 'compost' from
landscaping companies or in bags at the nursery, but that is really only
chipped and decomposed wood matter.
This is a good place to start if it's well decomposed, but in itself it
really is only a good source mostly of the carbon side of compost. The nitrogen
side has to come from the other sources listed.
And the hidden component which escapes a lot of people unfamiliar with the
process, as you say, is the presence of micro-organisms which are the result of
a worm's digestive channel, prime source for micro-organisms like a factory
outlet. Worm castings are loaded with billions of micro-organisms. And what
those little babies do is eat inorganic minerals in soil and convert them to an
organic form which the little rootlets can actually absorb, Inorganic minerals
aren't really being absorbed.
So, worms eat through the soil, taking in inorganic minerals and organic
matter like leaves and bits of sand and stuff, and out the other end comes
decomposed and broken down organic matter, organic minerals which the roots of
plants can absorb, and eventually the sand and some inorganic minerals
undigested.
Worms are your friend!!!! They also act as little rototillers, mixing up the
soil. They make holes through the soil which let in needed air, and give
channels for moisture to travel to the roots. They also leave behind baby worms
in the form of eggs so the cycle repeats.
Oh if we only had access to Rashid's worm pile!!!!
You're the man Rashid!
Best,
Diann Dirks
Permaculture Designer, Auburn, Ga.
----- Original Message -----
From: K. Rashid Nuri
To: Diann Dirks ; Bailey, Sarah ; 'Kasey Henneman' ;
community_garden@list.communitygarden.org
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 4:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Trouble shooting wheelchair accesible beds
greetings all
good compost should already include many of the items diann lists as
additives to the bed. add these items to the compost pile while it is
processing and you will end up with a rich mix that is the only thing necessary
to add to your beds. works for us. the only thing we add besides compost is one
shovelful from our worm beds for each wheelbarrow load of compost we put on the
beds. this inoculates the beds with castings and worm eggs. deep levels of rich
organic material retains moisture that simple topsoil lets escape.
peace
K. Rashid Nuri
Truly Living Well
P.O. Box 90841
East Point GA 30364
Phone: 404 520 8331
www.trulylivingwell.com
It is simply service that measures success. - George Washington Carver
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Diann Dirks <didi...@comcast.net>
To: "Bailey, Sarah" <sarah.bai...@uconn.edu>; 'Kasey Henneman'
<kasey.henne...@metroparks.org>; community_garden@list.communitygarden.org
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Trouble shooting wheelchair accesible beds
Kacey,
You mentioned that the bottom of your beds only had landscaping cloth etc.
over the bottom. Does that mean air circulates under the beds? If that is the
case, your soil isn't holding moisture. Perhaps I misunderstood. If the beds
rest on the soil, I really prefer two layers of corregated paper (cardboard)
first before adding soil components as this breaks down eventually (landscape
cloth if plastic is like a bad penny, it keeps showing up for years in tatters,
tangling roots), kills off any original grass or weeds, and holds in moisture
whereas landscape cloth just lets the moisture escape.
Sarah is right, only compost as a soil isn't really necessarily enough to
build real soil. I add construction grade coarse sand for structure - maybe
about 5 to 10%. Also, ground up autumn leaves (run the grass mower over and
catch the bits), non-chemical sprayed lawn clippings, manure (composted), worm
castings if you can get hold of it, dug in kitchen waste such as vegetable
peelings, coffee grounds and spent tea bags, some tri-phosphate, some rock
dust, some gypsum (for calcium) or ground up egg shells, in layers. Then over
the top, once things are planted, wheat straw - maybe 3 to 4 inches once your
plants are established, worked in between the plants to cover the soil. This
also gives worms food as do grass clippings as a top mulch. It's better to
water slow and deep rather than just sprinkling with a hose. You never get
enough water into the sub soil to really give your roots enough moisture unless
you really let it soak in.
It also helps to add some worms here and there to let the micro-organisms
get working from their castings. Make sure you give them enough fresh organic
matter to feed them (usually works best as a top coating of grass clippings,
crushed leaves, or blended kitchen peelings with water).
Hope that helps,
Diann Dirks
Permaculture Designer, Ga.
Good soil n
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bailey, Sarah" <sarah.bai...@uconn.edu>
To: "'Kasey Henneman'" <kasey.henne...@metroparks.org>;
<community_garden@list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:49 AM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Trouble shooting wheelchair accesible beds
> Kasey -
>
> If the beds were filled ONLY with fresh compost, you may have
significantly unbalanced soil - too much of anything, even compost, is not
good. Have you done a soil test to see what the nutrient make-up is? Soil tests
are generally available from your local Cooperative Extension office for a
nominal fee, and the results usually come with advice on any modifications that
may be necessary.
>
> Sarah
> Sarah Bailey
> Master Gardener Program Coordinator
> Pesticide Safety Educator
>
> Cooperative Extension Service
> 1800 Asylum Avenue
> West Hartford, CT 06117
>
> Ph: 860-570-9023
> Fax: 860-570-9008
> Email: sarah.bai...@uconn.edu
>
>
>
> An Equal Opportunity Employer and Program Provider.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: community_garden-boun...@list.communitygarden.org
[mailto:community_garden-boun...@list.communitygarden.org] On Behalf Of Kasey
Henneman
> Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 4:19 PM
> To: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org
> Subject: [Community_garden] Trouble shooting wheelchair accesible beds
>
> Hello Everyone,
>
> Here in Dayton Ohio we have a one year old accessible garden at the local
Access Center. We have 4 roll-under beds and 2 raised beds. The garden did
pretty well for its first year but we have had trouble keeping the roll-under
beds watered. The beds were purchased kits and the bottom of the bed is just
lattice, landscape cloth, and plastic mesh. The depth of the beds is only about
6-7 inches deep. This depth Is important for the bed to be tall enough to roll
under and low enough to reach over. We have done some heavy mulching and
installed some slow watering milk-jugs to encourage water absorption. We did
this late in the season can't say yet if this will be enough to keep water in
the beds just yet. I have the feeling we might need to rebuild the bottom of
the beds but would like to avoid doing this if possible.
>
> We have also had issue with growing anything in the beds. The beds were
filled with fresh compost and we only attempted to grow shallow rooted things
like lettuce and annual herbs. The crops were not successful the first time
(most likely) due to lack of water, however, most recently they were planted
with mustard, lettuce, and maybe peas and watered often and still did not
produce.
>
> Any ideas?!
>
> Thanks!
> Kasey
>
> Kasey Henneman
> Grow With Your Neighbors Program Assistant
> Five Rivers MetroParks
> 1375 E. Siebenthaler Ave.
> Dayton, OH 45414
>
> O // 937-277-6545 x1617
> F // 937-277-6546
> kasey.henne...@metroparks.org
>
> [cid:image001.jpg@01C884F1.7AFDB050] Visit http://www.metroparks.org and
get out for an adventure in your parks!
>
> P
> Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
>
>
>
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To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org
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The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's
services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out
how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
To post an e-mail to the list: community_garden@list.communitygarden.org
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