You need to, you and dig

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Do you think because there are a lot of acres? No, they refused one! The state of the earth became critical - a light gray lifeless substance, which, at the slightest drying out, turned into concrete lumps, or even lumps. The last earthworm was seen during the reign of Tsar Pea. But at the same time, I disappeared in the garden, like all exemplary housewives - twice deep digging of the entire plot, weeding to shine, "clean" earth, watering every day - it's scary even to remember. At the same time, every year there is more effort, and the result is worse than last year's. And it's a pity to abandon, growing children need real, homemade. Your vegetables aren't store-bought, are they?

And I began to think even more strongly than before. We are doing something wrong … But I feel at the same time, there is a way out, but the answer is just in the air …

That season was the season of great discoveries. Everything new was put into action so easily and surprisingly naturally, as if it had always happened, as if I had known it for a long time, I had simply forgotten. In my gut I sensed that this is exactly what is needed, it will change and help.

The first thing I did in the spring was to set up permanent beds, not ditches. I'll explain now. The earth did not allow water to pass through and so that at least somehow moisture would get to the plants, and not drain onto the paths, we dug a trench instead of a garden bed, planted tomatoes, peppers, eggplants in its bottom. Watering, the water is under the plants, and not somewhere there. In this fateful spring, the ditches were finished. Inexplicably, and in the most impudent way: the ditch beds have become normal flat beds and green siderates - mustard and phacelia - have turned green on them in early spring.

By the time the tomato seedlings were transplanted into the ground, the green manure had time to grow. In this green carpet, and not in the bare, chilly ground, I planted them. And eggplants and peppers and cucumbers. Plants behaved as if they had not been transplanted at all - frankly lost! The sun, wind, and nighttime temperature drops did not spoil their lives.

During the growth of green manure and rains came, and it was dry, but it was not necessary to loosen it even once, and it did not need to be watered either. It was loose and humid inside such a bed!

After about 8-10 days, I pruned the green manure with a sickle, carefully so as not to catch the vegetables. With a flat cutter, I slightly loosened the ground and on the garden bed, where there was the "heaviest" soil, spread the remnants of young unripe compost on top.

The next step is as important as planting siderata - the beds that have opened after cutting are slightly loosened and well covered with grass. The first mulch was chopped green manure cut from these beds. At that time, the earth had already warmed up enough and it was already possible to mulch it.

Chopped grass was laid out on top of the old one during the summer. How unusual it was to the eye - "rubbish" in the beds. But when you understand the meaning, it is joyful and interesting. And then you see not garbage, but the beds, covered like a blanket.

Everything was amazing. The number of irrigations has decreased by 3 times. I didn't have a chance to plow, and I didn't have to loosen, how to loosen if the ground is closed? A wonderful excuse. Those few grasses that managed to break through caused only a gentle smile, and those that began to sprout from mulch seeds were removed at once, because they were on top! And because below this wealth is loose soil! This summer did not happen not only painful weeding, but also the usual loosening after each rain and watering! Well, isn't it a thrill?

August came … Somehow I needed an empty bucket urgently. Without hesitation, in one fell swoop I pour 10 liters of water under the nearest plant and catch myself on the last drops. What am I doing? Now all paths will be in water and feet in mud. I stand in a daze, waiting for the flood. There is no water. Puzzled, I rake the mulch. There must be a sea of water, but it is not! She immediately went under the plant. This does not happen, it cannot be! Has it ever been so on this site?

I look at the opened earth: it is loose, as if they worked on it yesterday. Isn't it a miracle? Think of the ditches in which I had to grow plants. How can this happen in a few months?

In the fall, I did not remove organic matter from the soil. Only the tops of vegetables were removed. I planted rye on some of the beds. And in the cold winter, my land went sheltered and truly beautiful.

The next spring came. Neighboring areas looked like sparrows after a fight, but ours was surprisingly green, joyful. I was really looking forward to this moment. With a sinking heart, having removed with a rake a layer of last year's mulch on a free bed, I tried to discern, well, what about the earth, how is it? A deep groove was made easily and simply with a finger. This was a completely different land. She still doesn't know the shovels, sometimes I don't even loosen, but immediately make grooves and plant.

My story is not about a record harvest, it is about a kaleidoscope of our views, about priorities and results, when this or that becomes the main thing. All the time I tried to grow the harvest, but when the harvest became unimportant for me, I so wanted to breathe life into my Earth - this is the most amazing discovery. What happened dramatically changed not only the soil, but also my view of some things. On what the Earth is and what it can be when it feels good.

Let go of yourself and the hustle and bustle. Look with your soul at your land, sit quietly next to it, touch it with your hands, feel and listen to the sounds. You will understand what your Earth is asking for.