Liquid Fish Soil Rescue

Do you take cod liver oil?  For about four years now I've been taking (and giving to my family) fermented cod liver oil.  It is said to be the superfood of supplements.  

One day I was looking on the website of the company from which I purchase my fermented cod liver oil and I saw they offered "byproducts and farm products."  Then I read this testimonial from a gardener in Phoenix, Arizona.  From experience I can testify that gardening in Arizona is no small feat.

Here's a snippet of explanation from the website:

When bacteria die off they give 15% of their weight in nitrogen, 3% phosphorus and 1% potassium.  When conditions and food are perfect bacteria can double in count every 15 min.  It does not take much to put out 200 lb's of nitrogen through bacteria if you feed your soils/bacteria. 

What is the perfect foods for bacteria?  They need protein, sugars, water.  For explosive bacterial growth vitamin B's and enzymes need to be considered.     Liquid Fish Soil rescue is an excellent living food for your soil.  We do not destroy the enzymes or change the product through any other heating / processing steps... it purely fermented.

A friend and I bought a gallon to share (you cut it down with water before application).  I'm looking forward to seeing some results!

Let me just say: this stuff stinks....like you'd expect "fermented liquid fish liver" to smell.

Has anyone used this? Or something similar?

The Winter Garden

Y'all, I'm getting excited for spring!  Three weeks ago I gave birth to our third child, a 10 pound 10 ounce healthy boy (details here).  I feel a million times better than I have in nine months!

Yesterday I went to the garden for the first time in months.  Oh boy - it looks different from this fall.

First of all, the garden fairies built a compost bin.  It looks great!  Who wants to take credit for it?  All we need now is more compost.  :)

Looks like Clay Paul sowed some winter wheat as soil-enriching ground cover.  And, it looks like his mint survived the cold snap.

The main reason I went to the garden was to dump our ash bucket on my plot.  My parents scatter their fireplaces ashes on their garden so I thought I'd follow suit.  You can read more about using ashes to amend the soil here.  Our next bucket will be scattered in our yard.  We've loved burning a fire this winter!

 I suppose technically I should have had a soil sample taken first.  I'll put that on my "to do" list.

 I'm getting excited for spring!  The daffodils are poking up their sleepy heads in my flower beds.

Amending the Soil: Winter Wheat

Two informative articles from Mother Earth News:

Cover Crops: Tips and Advantages
Restoring Soil Nutrients: Organic Gardening

I plan on getting to the garden soon to clean out my bed and plant some winter wheat.  From bread making, I had some soft winter wheat (that grows well in a warm winter climate like ours).  I'm sure you could buy some at Whole Foods in the bulk bins.  Or just ask me, I'll give you a cup - our beds are so small you don't need much.

Below are pictures from LAST December of the raised bed near my house...and my cute garden helpers.

 She thought the soft soil was chocolate.  And soon learned it wasn't.

At the farmers' market, I scored some rice hulls to act as compost as well as camouflage for the wheat kernels (so the birds wouldn't peck the wheat before they germinated.)

We also added wheat to flower pots that didn't have annuals.  Actually, I think I planted tulips in this pot (below the wheat) and it looked pretty for a day or so until it was too hot and my tulips wilted.

 Springtime...just before I turned the soil.

Curled Leaves on Tomato Plants

Hi Julie,
I may also have an answer as to why Jim Ault's tomato leaves are curling.  My friend in Judsonia had 60 tomato plants that had leaves that were curling.  She thought she had blight and took a sample to her extension office.  They ran some tests and it turns out her problem was that she had put down bagged manure and it was more than the plant could tolerate.  Now that the potency is getting less the plants are returning to normal.  I know Jim Ault put a bunch of bagged manure on his plants.  He added it not too long ago.  He was talking about how it smelled his car up before he could get it to the garden.

Charlotte


{Comment from Julie:  I'm so thankful for Charlotte's input.  Please feel free to email me with any thoughts or tips you have.  My address is luvmyhub AT gmail DOT com}

Epsom Salts on Peppers and Tomato Plants

Thought of using Epsom salts on your peppers and tomatoes?  According to this article, it would be beneficial when the plants flower.

gypsum to break up clay clods

The following is an email Julie received from Bill Burgin.

I've started working on my grow bed at the park and found a lot of clay clods in the mix.  I used gypsum to break up clay in my garden in the past with good results and have decided to try it in the new bed.  It will not affect the Ph reading. Here is a website that covers the topic well, I think:

http://www.humeseeds.com/gypsum.htm

Of course, adding a lot of organic material like peat moss, compost, etc. will help too.

I did put sulphur in my bed for potatoes and tomatoes since they thrive better with Ph 5 for the former and Ph 6 for the latter. In a 4 X 12 bed, it will take one-half pound with more of it on the side potatoes are planted on and less on the tomato side.  The soil tested Ph 7, which is neutral. The sulphur disappears over a few months so it has to be reapplied next year.

Thought you'd like to pass this on to those using he beds.

The Soil

Bill Burgin tested the soil. He said the pH was 7 (good & neutral).  However, for best tomatoes and potatoes, we should add 1/2 lb sulfur to our 48 square feet (4x12 boxes).  I bought a 5 lb bag of sulfur today and would be glad to share with anyone.

Another option is to only add sulfur where you will be planting tomatoes and potatoes.
-Julie