First Soil Test

View a copy of our first soil test from Auburn University here.

Certain crops prefer certain soil characteristics. Getting your soil tested should be done at least week before tilling the soil and building beds. Soil amendments can be added in order to manipulate the pH balance or the availability of key elements.

As you can see from our soil test, the pH of the CCG is 6.8. Although most vegetables prefer different pH levels, they all generally do well in soils with a pH between 6.0-7.0. We probably don't need to spend time or resources altering the pH at this time, but we should be sure to note how the reading changes over the next several soil tests.

The soil test report also provides information regarding the amount of key elements in the tested area. According to our test, the CCG has a very high amount of Phosphorus and a medium amount of Potassium. Although Magnesium and Calcium are both in high numbers, they are not excessively so. In order to avoid raising the Phosphorus numbers, the CCG will only add fertilizers with low ratio for Phosphorus. Most crops do not require a lot of Phosphorus to survive, leaving most of it in the soil to build up over the years. The Phosphorus will eventually decline as we stop adding new sources of the element.

If you're interested in testing your own garden site, you can pick up a soil testing kit at the county extension office for free. Auburn does charge a $7 fee for their test report. You should expect your report within a week of submission. The CCG will plan to test the garden site twice a season (summer and winter) in order to make the best decisions about adding soil amendments and crop rotations.

Steamy Soil

Tim Duren of Evergreen Farms has volunteered to sterilize the CCG site. Tim sells snapdragons, sunflowers, and other small plants at the Homegrown Alabama Farmers Market held at Canterbury on Thursday afternoons. 

For the past several decades, Tim has been sterilizing his soil using steam. The steam raises the temperature of the soil high enough to kill all weeds, grass seeds, diseases, and harmful bacteria or fungi that may be lurking just under the surface. Healthy soil requires the presence of certain beneficial soil organisms that are, unfortunately, also killed when the soil is sterilized. However, the steaming process can also improve the soil structure by increasing air and moisture availability. 

Although the process will kill beneficial soil organisms in the CCG site, we have decided it will ultimately be a good idea. The soil in the garden site is so tightly compacted, any attempt at loosening it up and improving the aeration will be more than worth the loses. Adding compost and other organic material will eventually attract the beneficial organisms back to the garden site.

Tim will be demonstrating the process during the next Homegrown Alabama Farmers Market on May 20th. Stop by to watch and as questions.

Once the soil has been sterilized (Tim is also going to till the soil), the beds can be formed and planting can follow!

First things first

The first CCG work day was held on Wednesday, May 12th. The first task was to remove all of the grass in the garden area in order to get to work adding compost and tilling the soil.

Some went about this task in a very organized way in order to reuse the sod elsewhere. Others used any tools available, hoes, shovels, and rakes, to remove the grass. While the first method takes a little more time, the second method is very labor intensive. The second method also leaves plenty of loose grass and seeds in the bed. All together, the area was clear in about an hour.

The group then started spreading compost from the University of Alabama Arboretum. The compost is made up of pre-consumer waste from the University dining halls along with organic waste like grass clippings and raked leaves from campus and the grounds of the Arboretum. Other area farmers and gardeners purchase this compost from the Arboretum and swear by its richness.

Take a look at this amazing video put together by Ms. Lindsey Mullen. There are clips and photos from both the groundbreaking ceremony and the first work day:

Canterbury Community Garden from Lindsey Jayne on Vimeo.

The CCG is off to a great start with plenty of participation from the community! That doesn't mean we don't need more help though. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved with the garden. If you're interested in helping out with the garden, come by during a work day or contact Erica Smith.

Breaking Ground

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Canterbury Community Garden (CCG) was held on May 7, 2010.

Parishioners, students, and community members gathered to bless the selected garden site. Canterbury's Mouse, Graham Mullen, did the honors of displacing the patch of soil.

Immediately following the groundbreaking, attendees discussed possible goals and methods of the CCG. There were strong suggestions to eventually fully integrate the community garden and the food ministries at Canterbury. For 2010, the goal is to work on the soil quality and to build support for the project.

The garden site needs to be soil tested and soil amendments may be necessary before planting to begin. Plants that are beneficial for the soil will be planted alongside vegetables requested by those involved with the garden.