Samba's soil test

[Guest guest]

If, as you are, starting from scratch then a full soil ananlyses is worth

while. We were taking one in India, which is also necessary if you think

there may be a problem. However, the most simple and cost effective and

safest method of improving and building up your soil to sustain production

level is mass manufacture of good (or properly synthesed) compost. The most

reliable method being that of Indore Compost. I would say it is more worth

your while to make this than to put your energy into other remedies unless

the soil analysis is very drastic.

I have, and others have suggested before, that it is a very good idea to

prepare and work a small piece of land first rather than try to put the

entire farm under cultivation. There are many reasons for this. Other land

which is not being used direclty for the cultivation of food crops can

produce WEEDS for you, which if there are too many you just cut and leave

where they are to act as green manure directly into the surface. Many

intensive fruit crop producers do this and it is maximum efficieny. And

meanwhile you can plant some beneficial trees and shrubs in the permaculture

sequence of highest - to block wind - going down, (7 layers) lower and lower

until you get to root vegetable size. Weeds should be cultivated and you

will probably find so many varieties growing there naturally. These are an

abundant source of natural wealth that Krsna may be giving you for your

efforts. Cultivate them, they bring elements from deep with in the earth

that they have taken from the rock strata below. By cropping these you can

make teas, soups, sabjis, salads and medicinal beverages.

Looking at an organic farm is a completly different concept to looking at an

ordinary farm where they want everything neat and clean and brown! We want

everything slightly messy, clean and green! That is to say that weeds are a

wonderful manifestation of Krnsna's energy. Cultivating them dry them on the

yard floors or on path ways; never stack them up in a mound. We were, in

India and every other day we had a new crop come in to the Goshala area for

drying or feeding to the cows, using as bedding and for soaking up excessive

urine then composting. The cows soon got healthy again and stopped dying.You

may be able to get a source of organic material from the local town or city

that you can use to boost you first years input. As Vyapaka prabhu says it

can take time for these other methods to be productive. Compost is ready in

3 or even 2 months in your climate. You can then immediatley use it as a

rough mulch to conserve moisture in and around the plants you wish to grow.

Store it, protect it from the elements, treasure it it is your fertiliser,

growing medium, soil conditioner.

 

Notes on some of the benefits of compost making

 

It was, and still sometimes is, very disturbing to see the smoke from the

fires in farms and gardens coming from the burning of leaves, weeds and

other debris. The value of these items can best and most easily be

assimilated into plants and subsequently into our bodies through the

manufacture of the age old process of making good compost.

Compost is as old as Agriculture.

Briefly mentioning the NPK value of compost, which can very easily be built

up to suitable levels depending on your ingredients see 'LSOC' - cut the

weeds just before they seed for highest nitrogen content and dry for one day

in the sun.

 

Trace elements, minerals and other benefits from weeds etc..

Leaves:

many trace elements, depending on the trees, some take from 40 feet below

ground level.

Couch grass:

Potassium, Silica, Chlorine and other desirable mineral nutrients with a

special carbohydrate and beneficial sugar.

Coltsfoot:

Sulphur, potassium and calcium

The Clovers:

Sodium the mineral which reduces acidity and helps assimilation of iron.

Chickweed:

Copper and other valuable constituents

All the 'Dead Nettles' contain useful elements

Yarrow:

Provides copper, nitrates, phosphates and potash

Chamomile:

Calcium and

thyme has other gifts.

Buttercup:

Potassium and other elements

BORAGE:

Potassium, Calcium and mineral salts.

Nasturtiums: - grown as an important deterrant to many things; climbing in

greenhouses.

 

Trace elements iron, zinc, manganese, copper, cobalt, boron, molybdenum

If these elements are unavailable through too high a lime content we and our

plants suffer from deficiency.

Dandelion:

like nettles has 3 times more iron than any other plant, also it attracts

copper into its-self.

Fat Hen:

has more iron than spinach or cabbage. And more vitanmin B1 and B2.

Horsetail:

Cobalt, calcium and silica

You must cut the weeds when you are planting near by as they lodge many

pests and aphids etc.,

 

Stinging nettles as previously mentioned stimulate the growth of other

plants and make them more resistant to disease and improve the storing

qualities of root vegetables.

Be careful with Cumfrey (all varieties) I should only grow this in a very

restricted area i.e. where there is a substantially contained concrete or

stone bed etc., You can make excellent immediate fertiliser from this (soak

for two days) people actually crop this for selling as fertiliser.

Nettles: (same as above)

nitrogen, silica, iron, chlorophyll, protein, phosphates, formic acid and

other mineral salts.

Yarrow:

copper, nitrates, phosphates and chlorides of potash and lime

 

Therefore every farm should have a natural area for the growth of such weeds

or natural meadow and as we have said previously they can be used as a

suplemental animal feed giving health and vitality to your animals. Or if

you haven't got any compost them to get them into your food chain.

Incorporate them as growing mulch cover or used as green manure. Form a

rotation plan for when more of your farm gets into use, but composting helps

reduce the importance of this.

It is my personal belief that so many of our leaders have become ill because

of the lack of these elements in their food. Also by eating many of these

plants so many ailments are automatically cured like gall stones, gravel

etc. etc., It is modern influence that dictates that you go to the store or

market only. Why not take these natural plants and transform them into

health giving Praasadam. We are currently doing NPK tests on three wire

compost bins that are recycling left over (cooked) Prasad, as the pigs

having been fed this for so long, have become ill. Hare Krsna.