Class #3 Today we went over the right way to hold a spring back rake, the point of purchasing a good quality border fork, and pruners are a luxury buy what you can afford, that you can skimp on the shovel or spade and when purchasing a wooden handled tool to look for ones that have the grain going up and down the handle for better strength.
Soil was the class topic today. We learned that the layers of soil are few and that life grows on the top 6" to 3 feet. There are 4 layers, the organic (A) layer, the B layer, sub soil and C layer. The Bienz Soil Classification Chart will help to determine what your soil make up is. (If you can figure out how to read it).
Did you know a human hair is .075mm thick.
There is gravitational water, capillary water, wedges and hygroscopic water. Without air in the soil nothing grows. There are more organisms in the soil than you can imagine. Flora is made of bacteria, fauna is protozoa, nematodes and earthworms, fungi are not plants and share a close relationship with animals and worms process their own weight in castings per day. Castings are rich in bacteria, plant nutrients and organic matter. Did you know worm castings= .5x.5x.3 Nitrogen/Phosphorous/Potasium.
If compost use were increased the benefits to the environment would be less water consumption. The average homeowner is unaware of basic soil management. The best size for a compost bin is 4x4x4, the best way to have a workable system is two bins. Have one bin you start filling in the fall and continue filling until the next fall, start filling bin #2 in the fall, letting bin #1 do its thing. By year 2 you should start to have continuous compost to use in your yard. If your bins are 4x4x4 this will give sufficient air to the centre of the bin without having to turn or play with your bins. Let nature do the work. The best place for a compost is where ever your yard will let you. If its shady then it will take longer.

Day -7 sun and cloud Wind NNW11km/h P.O.P.10%
Night -17 mostly cloudy Wind NNW14km/h P.O.P.10%