Probiotics are not just for Greek yogurt. Though good bacteria and microbes have gotten a healthy rep in recent years, their huge importance in soil health cannot be forgotten. Microbes do it all: they break down plant material and rocks, fix nutrients such as nitrogen in the soil, and protect plants from pests and disease. It’s a good thing microbes are everywhere: in just one handful of soil there are more microorganisms than all the humans on earth! A healthy microbe community in your garden can be fostered through fertilizer use. Conventional fertilizers feed individual plants rather than the soil, and are therefore no friend to healthy soil bacteria.
Conventional chemical fertilizers:
- feed the plants themselves rather than the soil
- strip nutrients from the soil
- weaken soil quality
- increase dependence on more chemicals
Organic fertilizers:
- introduce nutrients and microbes into the soil
- allow plants to absorb nutrients
- maintain soil richness
- reduce runoff into waterways
Easy DIY Compost
While you can buy organic fertilizer (Green City Growers uses Pro-Gro from North Country Organics), why not try making your own instead? Almost a quarter of all waste is food and plant materials that could be turned into productive soil instead of sitting in a landfill. Compost can be made in your own backyard (or rooftop) with very little effort. You will be reducing waste while creating healthy, rich soil for your garden.There is a ton of information out there, but here is a simple way to bring composting to your backyard.
- Get a compost bin: (the easiest is probably a plastic storage container with holes drilled in, but you can use a box made of nailed together pallets, or chicken wire nailed to posts). Just make sure there are holes in the bin, or some way for the decomposing organic matter to get air.
- Place the bin in a place away from tree roots that has good drainage and sunlight and is easily accessible.
- Put some soil at the bottom of your bin to start the decomposing process. Add in two parts brown matter (carbon) to one part green matter (nitrogen), worms if you desire, and water the entire pile.
- Add organic material in the rough ratio of two parts brown materials to one part green. Flip, shake, or turn the pile once a week to speed up the decomposing process.
What to Include
Brown material includes leaves, straw, cardboard, paper, newspapers, woodchips and other landscape waste. Green matter includes kitchen scraps, grass clippings, tea bags, manure, coffee grinds, eggshells and fruits and vegetables. Some things to be sure NOT to include are bones, meat, dairy, human manure, diseased plants and seeded or runner weeds.
More Info
Be sure to diversify your ingredients and cover the pile in rain or snow. More information on composting can be found in The Urban Bounty: How to Grow Fresh Food, Anywhere by Allison Houghton and Jessie Banhazl.
Want to learn about composting, healthy soil and much more? Sign up for our Urban Farming Course, July 11-13 at Green City Growers headquarters in Somerville for an informative 3-day workshop with our expert urban gardeners.
