Sheet mulching and pH

Finally we have our first two beds filled with dirt.

The first one we sheet mulched in order to build the soil directly into the bed and the other we 

simply filled with cenote dirt.

I used sheet mulching a lot in our garden in NC, when opening another piece of grass up for growing, rather than digging out the grass, I would simply cut it real short and sheet mulch directly on top of the grass. This would incorporate the grass, roots and all the layers into the building of the soil, and at the same time avoid disturbing all the life beneath the grass.

Here however I am trying out using this technic to build the soil directly into the raised bed.

This is the process we used this time around, every time I have sheet mulched it is always a little different, depending on the materials I have on hand.

First we cleared out all the rocks, well the ones that we physically could.

 Then to clean the soil (as has been suggested by local farmers) we added a layer of ashes and left it in the sun for a day. (as it turns out I wonder if this was a good idea as my soil test proved that our soil, at least the cenote dirt, is very alkaline, and ashes are used to make acid soil more alkaline, so not exactly what we needed) .... ohh well....

 Then we added a layer of card board, if there are any weeds or if you are sheet mulching on top of grass or thick weeds this layer will smother it. Then lots of water.

 Then we added a thick layer of greens

 Then lots of water, as between each layer, in essence much like making a compost pile.

 Then we added a layer of dry matter, could be leaves, newspapers, or what ever you have, we used 

the dried cut grasses from the cenote. Then more water.

 Then a layer of horse manure, and more water.

 Then we added a layer of our ready compost, then more water.

 And finally a layer of cenote dirt.

Ideally I would leave that for a few months, in NC I would leave it to overwinter and it would be ready in spring, but here with the heat I think it will soon be ready, because it has already been sitting for about   4-5 weeks and is no longer warm at all.

Now the bed below is filled with just cenote dirt.

I did a home soil test the other day and it tested the soil very alkaline, which usually translates into a high salt content, this makes sense as the dirt is taken from the cenote. Apparently at some point the saltwater of the sea mixes a little with the underground river systems here, so sometimes the water is more salty than others. Also we find alkaline soil mostly in arid areas, which this place must be said to be, at least somewhat, when we arrived in early summer, it was just the end of 

dry season and it looked much like a dessert everywhere. 

Apparently it is tougher to lower the pH of the soil than it is to raise it if your soil is too acid. Generally soil is considered neutral when the pH measures 7.0, anything below is considered acid soil anything above is considered alkaline. Most plants prefer a pH around 6.5-7.0.

Our cenote soil measured at least 7.5, that may not seem like much but it makes nutrients in the soil unavailable to the plants and encourages pests and sickness in plants when the pH is off.

There are a few ideas out there as to how to remedy this problem.

Add plenty of organic matter, when we have more compost ready I will mix at least half the bed

with compost. Adding peat is also mentioned, but peat is expensive, a nonrenewable resource and I do not even know if we can get it here. Another suggestion is adding sulfur straight to the soil, not sure about that but does not sound like a sustainable way to handle the problem. You might also add vinegar, which has a very low pH, but this will need to be done continuously to work, and so not very practical.

Another suggestion mentions composted sawdust, this we have though not composted, 

and I will add some once it has broken down a bit. 

Horse manure is also said to do good and this we are already adding.

I hope and believe that adding plenty of compost, growing a cover crop rich in nitrogen and continually adding mulches will go along way to solve the problem, but I will keep you posted on the progress.

Can you tell these things interest me? I find the workings of the soil so interesting.

~Blessings~

This day

These days whenever I go to the land, I always make a few stops along the less trafficked roads to pick up greens for my compost piles. I make a new pile most days I go lately, and right now there are 5 piles cooking,  getting ready, rich good compost for the vegetables beds.

I really enjoy this process, getting the pile just right, each time getting it more the way I want it; nice and square to keep even pressure throughout the pile, thoroughly wet between each layer. Then checking the temperature by sticking a machete into the center and see how hot it comes out and then some more to aerate it, adding more water if too dry and so on. 

Building the soil, giving love and intention to the earth that will later grow the food that will nourish us, 

I love it! 

 The compost is cooking, the seeds have sprouted all we need now are the beds ready.

Today Miguel and I cleared the first bed of many many rocks, 

while Abelardo filled a few of the remaining holes in the walls. Then I added a dusting of ashes to add some potassium, but more as a kind of cleanser for the soil. 

This was recommended by a local gardener, to give a fresh start.

Saturday I will sheet mulch inside the bed to build the soil right where we need it, I think that in this heat, if we keep it wet and aerated it should be ready to plant within a month.

 The crocodile was around again, but I was too late with the camera and caught just the tail 

slipping into the water

 I checked on all the babies, we have many trees sprouting nicely. Especially the avocado

seeds have almost all shot up nice little trees. And when we were cleaning an area the other day I started many cuttings from the trees to see what would root, and so far it looks like they all are rooting nicely.

And of course I stopped by the house a few times, it is coming along nicely...

~Blessings~