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One of my friends is blessed with a yard of fertile soil. My yard has very shallow top soil over heavy yellow
clay. We refer to our home as "Claymore Estates." Clay soils are made of of tiny particles that prevent moisture,
air and roots from penetrating the soil to a reasonable depth. Just like in our own lives, we must work with what we
have, not what we wish we had. We must bloom where we are planted.
Here is a picture of the coming flower bed with just the grass removed. This is an addition to an very
small existing bed. I started this project in Spring, 2003.
I chose to use organic humus, from Wal Mart, bought in 40 pound bags, at $1 per bag. (see below) The organic
matter breaks up the tight clay soil and allows water, air and roots to penetrate the soil. There are all kinds of different
organic matter you could use to do the same thing. The bags have advantages. They did not contain weed seeds,
were relatively inexpensive and were easily available.
I have a friend who has a small horse herd. I used horse manure, free and very available, for my vegetable garden.
It worked very well, very well indeed, in improving my garden soil. I put on very generous amounts and tilled
it in. Horse manure dries quickly and will not burn what you plant after it is dry. The downside, and it was a
big one, is that horses do not digest their food very well and weed seeds they eat survive to grow weeds. Properly composted
manure of almost any type would destroy the weed seeds thru the heat developed during composting. I have also used cow
manure with good success. Any type of manure improves the soil structure and has some value as a fertilizer. Some
manures are "hot" and can burn your crop. There was no danger of that from the humus from Wal Mart or from cow or horse
manure.
Fertile Ground (Continued here)
“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’
“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because
you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,”
says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that
you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields
will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for
yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:8-12 NIV
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