Scouts/Cubs
Trinity Bible Church Ottawa
TBCO Community Organic Garden
In order to answer any questions you may have with your own Organic Garden, we will not only provide information on what's happening with the TBCO Community Organic Garden, but will provide information on the technology and steps we are taking at the Garden.
PREPARING THE SOIL FOR SEED:
Preparing the garden bed began last Fall when a group of us dug the 6' x 150' raised bed garden. The idea was to loosen the soil 12" to 14" into the ground, allowing for maximum air and water migration, using a shovel.
Acidic soils wash fertility because major plant food elements are most available in a neutral soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0
We tested for pH and determined that the soil was about a 6.6 and it was fairly neutral, so not a very large amount of soil neutralizing was needed.
A soil neutralizing product such as lime-right makes nutrients more available to plants and grasses and promotes growth of beneficial soil bacteria. A combination of calcium carbonate equivalents, the proper calcium and magnesium, all play a role in healthy promotion of plant growth.
This Spring and preparing the soil for planting:
On Saturday, April 24th (2009) we had compost delivered. Application rate we're targeting is a 1:1 ratio of compost/soil. pH was tested again and found to be similar to last Fall's test and again a minimum of Lime-Right (20 lbs per 1000 sq. foot was applied).
Using a walk-behind roto-tiller, the first tilling broke the sod, we incorporated the compost and the lime-right.
Spots in the lower part of the garden were very wet, so we're going to try roto-till again on Saturday, May 2nd. We'll also incorporate more compost and get 8-10" of finely tilled soil for seed bed. Either on this same Saturday or the following Saturday (May 9th), we will lay the irrigation hose.
We'll post more information on this page as we proceed, or feel free to ask questions by emailing Roland Poirier.
