> Hello, > > I live in Southern Nevada (Mojave Desert) USDA Zone 8a. > > This is a difficult place to grow a garden, but yesterday I found some > information that got me excited about growing tomatoes. The lady has a > book with many details for growing in the harsh desert. > > Our soil here is hard packed, plenty of rock and difficult to grow > anything. > > Reading on I found out that some soils are made with "biosolids" > (sewer sludge). From my reading it was pointed out that this > information is not unnecessarily reported to the consumer. Apparently > this is some "nasty" stuff to be growing food crops in, since it > contains things that are not removed at the sewer treatment plants.* > > > Questions: What can I use and combine to make my own soil? Are there > products that I can use to ensure the soil is safe? > > Thank You. > > * > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sludge#Biosolids
You want to avoid biosolids for a garden, or wherever you may want a
garden in the future (heavy metals).
<http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/michelle-obamas-toxic-veggie-nightmare
-white-house-organic-gar/19114069/>
You want 18 lbs. of chicken manure (or its equivalent)/100 sq. ft..
There should be 5% to 10% organic material in the soil.
30% - 40% sand, 30% - 40% silt, 20% - 30% clay
If you scrape away the top inch or two of dirt, then dig a sample from a
hole with vertically straight sides, put it into a large glass jar with
water, and shake it hard to mix it up, then the sediment will take 24
hrs. to settle. The bottom layer is sand, the middle layer is silt, and
the top layer is clay. The thickness of the layer divided by the total
thickness of the total deposit gives the percentage of composition.
You'll want to pull out the rocks as well. Use them to build a nice
fence.
It would probably be easier to build a raised garden, or to use pots.
Good luck.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/january052009/israel_attacks_1-5-09.ph
p
Posted by Billy on January 9, 2011, 2:17 am
> wrote: > > > > >> Hello, > >> > >> I live in Southern Nevada (Mojave Desert) USDA Zone 8a. > >> > >> This is a difficult place to grow a garden, but yesterday I found some > >> information that got me excited about growing tomatoes. The lady has a > >> book with many details for growing in the harsh desert. > >> > >> Our soil here is hard packed, plenty of rock and difficult to grow > >> anything. > >> > >> Reading on I found out that some soils are made with "biosolids" > >> (sewer sludge). From my reading it was pointed out that this > >> information is not unnecessarily reported to the consumer. Apparently > >> this is some "nasty" stuff to be growing food crops in, since it > >> contains things that are not removed at the sewer treatment plants.* > >> > >> > >> Questions: What can I use and combine to make my own soil? Are there > >> products that I can use to ensure the soil is safe? > >> > >> Thank You. > >> > >> * > >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sludge#Biosolids > > > >You want to avoid biosolids for a garden, or wherever you may want a > >garden in the future (heavy metals). > ><http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/michelle-obamas-toxic-veggie-nightmare > >-white-house-organic-gar/19114069/> > > > >You want 18 lbs. of chicken manure (or its equivalent)/100 sq. ft.. > >There should be 5% to 10% organic material in the soil. > >30% - 40% sand, 30% - 40% silt, 20% - 30% clay > >If you scrape away the top inch or two of dirt, then dig a sample from a > >hole with vertically straight sides, put it into a large glass jar with > >water, and shake it hard to mix it up, then the sediment will take 24 > >hrs. to settle. The bottom layer is sand, the middle layer is silt, and > >the top layer is clay. The thickness of the layer divided by the total > >thickness of the total deposit gives the percentage of composition. > >You'll want to pull out the rocks as well. Use them to build a nice > >fence. > > > >It would probably be easier to build a raised garden, or to use pots. > > > >Good luck. > > Thanks. I'll look into this more and find what I can. Containers are > pretty much a lost cause out here in the heat. We get many days of > 115F temperatures and container gardening is not really the best, > without frequent or constant checking and watering. > > I have material (cinder-blocks) I can make a raised bed. That was one > thought I have already considered Irrigation is of no concern as I > removed much of my lawn turf and still have the pipes capped off, etc. > I can use it as drip lines for a raised bed. I'll speak with the > local nursery folks. > > The last time I saw real black dirt was when I crossed the Mississippi > River... wish I had some river bottom dirt. The desert dirt here is > like concrete.
The first thing a gardener does is to learn how to grow soil. Soil that
is economical, and nurtures, without poisoning the environment.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/january052009/israel_attacks_1-5-09.ph
p
Posted by Nad R on January 9, 2011, 6:19 am
> >> wrote: >> >>> >>>> Hello, >>>> >>>> I live in Southern Nevada (Mojave Desert) USDA Zone 8a. >>>> >>>> This is a difficult place to grow a garden, but yesterday I found some >>>> information that got me excited about growing tomatoes. The lady has a >>>> book with many details for growing in the harsh desert. >>>> >>>> Our soil here is hard packed, plenty of rock and difficult to grow >>>> anything.
Snip...
>> The last time I saw real black dirt was when I crossed the Mississippi >> River... wish I had some river bottom dirt. The desert dirt here is >> like concrete. > > The first thing a gardener does is to learn how to grow soil. Soil that > is economical, and nurtures, without poisoning the environment.
Many years ago their was an episode which I do not remember. The show had
this one guy with a beautiful garden in the desert. He had a high walled
one acre yard with a small home inside the walled area. The place was
surrounded by a brown dusty town and inside the gate a beautiful garden.
The high walls blocked the wind and provided shade for the plants.
He had a massive water management system that captured very rain drop and
an automatic drip watering system. The landscape itself had stone paths
that had water to flow into a cistern. He also had patios with open roofs
of two by twelves that blocked much of the harsh sun light for the more
delicate plants.
I have a feeling soil building is not going to be your main problem, it is
water and providing shade for the plants in a harsh environment. When you
add water to your soil soil does it turn: clay like, sand like or does the
water stay in it with nice loamy texture?
--
Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)
Posted by Billy on January 9, 2011, 2:50 pm
> > > >> wrote: > >> > >>> > >>>> Hello, > >>>> > >>>> I live in Southern Nevada (Mojave Desert) USDA Zone 8a. > >>>> > >>>> This is a difficult place to grow a garden, but yesterday I found some > >>>> information that got me excited about growing tomatoes. The lady has a > >>>> book with many details for growing in the harsh desert. > >>>> > >>>> Our soil here is hard packed, plenty of rock and difficult to grow > >>>> anything. > > Snip... > > >> The last time I saw real black dirt was when I crossed the Mississippi > >> River... wish I had some river bottom dirt. The desert dirt here is > >> like concrete. > > > > The first thing a gardener does is to learn how to grow soil. Soil that > > is economical, and nurtures, without poisoning the environment. > > Many years ago their was an episode which I do not remember. The show had > this one guy with a beautiful garden in the desert. He had a high walled > one acre yard with a small home inside the walled area. The place was > surrounded by a brown dusty town and inside the gate a beautiful garden. > The high walls blocked the wind and provided shade for the plants. > > He had a massive water management system that captured very rain drop and > an automatic drip watering system. The landscape itself had stone paths > that had water to flow into a cistern. He also had patios with open roofs > of two by twelves that blocked much of the harsh sun light for the more > delicate plants. > > I have a feeling soil building is not going to be your main problem, it is > water and providing shade for the plants in a harsh environment.
That's not the question that he asked. Oren asked,
"Questions: What can I use and combine to make my own soil? Are there
products that I can use to ensure the soil is safe?"
The first questioned was answered. As to the second question, it is a
lot like cooking: use the best ingredients and the best practices.
> When you > add water to your soil soil does it turn: clay like, sand like or does the > water stay in it with nice loamy texture?
Since cool air stays closer to the ground, walls act as a container to
keep the coolness from flowing away, and offer some shade. Overhangs,
like covered porches, protect the house's walls from being heated by the
sun, permitting them be a source of coolness.
The Moorish/Spanish walled courtyard would help moderate temperatures,
see pictures below. Most probably have too many paving stones, but they
will give you an idea as to what is possible.
<http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2795709700034323750liNrcY>
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/january052009/israel_attacks_1-5-09.ph
p
Posted by Nad R on January 9, 2011, 4:37 pm
> >>> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Hello, >>>>>> >>>>>> I live in Southern Nevada (Mojave Desert) USDA Zone 8a. >>>>>> >>>>>> This is a difficult place to grow a garden, but yesterday I found some >>>>>> information that got me excited about growing tomatoes. The lady has a >>>>>> book with many details for growing in the harsh desert. >>>>>> >>>>>> Our soil here is hard packed, plenty of rock and difficult to grow >>>>>> anything. >> >> Snip... >> >>>> The last time I saw real black dirt was when I crossed the Mississippi >>>> River... wish I had some river bottom dirt. The desert dirt here is >>>> like concrete. >>> >>> The first thing a gardener does is to learn how to grow soil. Soil that >>> is economical, and nurtures, without poisoning the environment. >> >> Many years ago their was an episode which I do not remember. The show had >> this one guy with a beautiful garden in the desert. He had a high walled >> one acre yard with a small home inside the walled area. The place was >> surrounded by a brown dusty town and inside the gate a beautiful garden. >> The high walls blocked the wind and provided shade for the plants. >> >> He had a massive water management system that captured very rain drop and >> an automatic drip watering system. The landscape itself had stone paths >> that had water to flow into a cistern. He also had patios with open roofs >> of two by twelves that blocked much of the harsh sun light for the more >> delicate plants. >> >> I have a feeling soil building is not going to be your main problem, it is >> water and providing shade for the plants in a harsh environment. > > That's not the question that he asked. Oren asked, > "Questions: What can I use and combine to make my own soil? Are there > products that I can use to ensure the soil is safe?" > > The first questioned was answered. As to the second question, it is a > lot like cooking: use the best ingredients and the best practices. > >> When you >> add water to your soil soil does it turn: clay like, sand like or does the >> water stay in it with nice loamy texture? > > Since cool air stays closer to the ground, walls act as a container to > keep the coolness from flowing away, and offer some shade. Overhangs, > like covered porches, protect the house's walls from being heated by the > sun, permitting them be a source of coolness. > > The Moorish/Spanish walled courtyard would help moderate temperatures, > see pictures below. Most probably have too many paving stones, but they > will give you an idea as to what is possible. > > > <http://books.google.com/books?id=Pi_UoFpZmxUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Hac > ienda+walled+courtyards&source=bl&ots=opXBFB_zf0&sigûynp-jHIG4XLL5UjoIX > OHTgsU0&hl=en&ei=EgEqTf7FNI74sAPo0aHFCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&res > num=2&ved CQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false> > > <http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2795709700034323750liNrcY>
When he mentioned southern Nevada, it just brought back the memories of
that tv program. After all I am no expert in that area since I still have
snow on the ground and 25 degrees outside. Soon to start indoor seed
starting and longing for spring.
--
Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)
XML site map
>
> I live in Southern Nevada (Mojave Desert) USDA Zone 8a.
>
> This is a difficult place to grow a garden, but yesterday I found some
> information that got me excited about growing tomatoes. The lady has a
> book with many details for growing in the harsh desert.
>
> Our soil here is hard packed, plenty of rock and difficult to grow
> anything.
>
> Reading on I found out that some soils are made with "biosolids"
> (sewer sludge). From my reading it was pointed out that this
> information is not unnecessarily reported to the consumer. Apparently
> this is some "nasty" stuff to be growing food crops in, since it
> contains things that are not removed at the sewer treatment plants.*
>
>
> Questions: What can I use and combine to make my own soil? Are there
> products that I can use to ensure the soil is safe?
>
> Thank You.
>
> *
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sludge#Biosolids