If you want to grow plants successfully, you have to provide them with a growing medium that is going to help them to grow not only healthy but to their full potential.

The basic medium to grow plants in is; the natural soil that has been building up over millions of years full of soil life, microbes and worms.

It is under your feet when you walk outside. Called by names such as dirt, mud, earth, loam

land, clay, land and Terra Firma. (Latin meaning: firm land)

In a past article I pointed out how the East and in particular China have over thousands of years learnt the secrets of earth building, replacing what is taken out and often putting more back in.

The rule they have is not only replacing that has been used while growing crops but adding more goodness.

Some years ago I wrote about; Haikai Tane who has traveled extensively though China gaining knowledge and is highly regarded in his field of sustainability expertise.

He supplied me with his insights found in his travels.

“I have found three main traditional ways of fermenting wastes in China’s rural heartlands ~ but only one example of crude composting ~

a poor old lady whose husband had died, was piling her wastes in a heap not far from the house and shitting on top of it daily ~ very simple!

The villagers tell me that composting loses too much nutrient energy from oxidation and volatilisation which they need for growing crops!

The main way is the sealed fermentation pit with tight fitting lid ~ the pit is located beside the house and pig sty ~ with a pipe syphoning off methane for gas light or gas stove ~

This method is called the pig gas digester ~ it consumes all the human excrement of the household ~ the resulting enriched “fermented liquid fertilizers” smells more like alcohol than effluents ~ a rich sweet smell ~

 this liquid is highly cherished and used sub-soil before over planting ~ sometimes with a slurry of sediment when the pit needs replenishing ~

because there is a possibility of pathogens remaining in the fermentation pits ~ it is not used to fertilize growing plants or wet top soils…”

Thus from the Chinese whom are the Masters of Earth Building and long term sustainability of the soils.

The western style composting has minimum benefits when compared to other methods which are used directly in the soil.

For instance from rural farming days of the past where availability of land for use was no obstacle.

A trench would be dug across the vegetable garden a couple of spades deep and about a metre wide.

All the kitchen wastes would be thrown into one end of the trench and likely along with any organic material and animal manures. When that bit of the trench was up to soil level it would be covered with dirt.

The next bit of the trench then used for the wastes and repeated the length of the trench after which a new trench would be dug along side.

You can imagine the soil life activity in the covered trench, microbes, earth worms having a field day and likely no goodness disappearing into the atmosphere. Maximum returns and lots of healthy crops to harvest.

To digress a little; Reminds me of a story that a chap once told me. He used to visit his girl friends house for tea on Sunday nights and would always take a basket of fresh vegetables with him.

Her parents were truly amazed at the size of the produce and its flavour.

They would ask the lad what was his father’s secrets to grow such big wonderful vegetables.

He told me he could never tell them because his father would clean out the septic tank every year and

place the contents over the vegetable garden! A true story.

For us gardeners that do not want to divert their sewage into a holding tank for the gardens we can

make good use of animal and chicken manures in our gardens placing them in the planting hole or

when preparing a bed or a raised garden, laying the manure across the garden and covering with a purchased compost.

Side dressing existing plants such as roses spread the manure along with Wallys Real Blood & Bone over the root zone and then cover with compost.

The covering is important as it locks the goodness in.

Now some of you may have heard of a natural product called Biochar?

From wikipedia:

Pre-ColumbianAmazonians are believed to have used bio char to enhance soil productivity.

They seem to have produced it by smoldering agricultural waste (i.e., covering burning biomass with soil) in pits or trenches.

Biochar is recognised as offering a number of benefits for soil health.

Many benefits are related to the extremely porous nature of biochar.

This structure is found to be very effective at retaining both water and water-soluble nutrients.

Soil biologist say the extreme suitability of biochar as a habitat for many beneficial soil micro organisms.

When pre charged with these beneficial organisms biochar becomes an extremely effective soil amendment promoting good soil, and in turn plant, health.

Biochar has also been shown to reduce leaching of E-coli through sandy soils depending on application rate, feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, soil moisture content, soil texture, and surface properties of the bacteria.

For plants that require high potash and elevated pH, biochar can be used as a soil amendment to improve yield.

Biochar can improve water quality, reduce soil emissions of greenhouse gases, reduce nutrient leaching, reduce soil acidity, and reduce irrigation and fertilizer requirements.

Biochar was also found under certain circumstances to induce plant systemic responses to foliage fungal diseases and to improve plant responses to diseases caused by soil borne pathogens.

You can buy Biochar on line from the likes of https://seaclifforganics.nz/products/bio-char-charged?srsltid=AfmBOoo76U0LGBF8C6rVx9mV9hhSRU7PKfBk6nyCylYxY6QQneyn9kdc&variant=32583601619049

The answer is in the soil, incorporating manures and organic material into the soil or if side dressing plants covering with some compost for full benefit.

PROMOTION……

Spring has been a bit late this year hence we have not run our every year ‘Welcome Spring Promotion’ also getting material from overseas has taken longer and with added expenses.

But now we are away for the next two weeks, starting with orders placed today and up to Midnight on 14^th September the following discounts will apply to all products we have on www.0800466464.co.nz

Thats all the bulk goods and all items.

Discounts will increase on more you buy the higher the overall discount will be.

Purchases up to including $50 less 5% Saving up to $2.50 Plus shipping

Purchases up to including $100 less 10% Saving up to $10.00 Plus shipping

Purchases up to including $150 less 12.5% Saving up to $18.75 Plus shipping

Purchases up to including $200 less 15% Saving up to $30.00 Plus shipping

Purchases up to including $250 less 17.5% Saving up to $43.75 Plus shipping

Purchases up to including $400 less 20% Saving up to $80.00 Plus shipping

Purchases up to including $500 less 25% Saving up to $125.00 Plus shipping

Place your order on www.0800466464.co.nz and in the NOTES at check out put SPRING

So I know it is a discounted purchase then I will phone you to do either card over phone or arrange a bank transfer.

Enjoy the Spring Savings ends 14^th September.

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New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. Part II of the Act covers a broad range of Civil and Political Rights. As part of the right to life and the security of the person, the Act guarantees everyone:

1The right not to be deprived of life except in accordance with fundamental justice (Section 8)

2The right not to be subjected to torture or to cruel, degrading, or disproportionately severe treatment or punishment (Section 9)

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4The right to refuse to undergo any medical treatment (Section 11)

 Furthermore, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 guarantees everyone: Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion.
This includes the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief,
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Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly.

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