Look to Mother Nature

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by Amanda M. Bowman
Containers of lemon basil fertilized with duck manure.

Several years ago, while transforming our sand dune into an organic garden, I introduced my husband to the concept of “beneficial detritus.”

“This,” I said, pointing to decimated tumbleweeds and puncture vine. “You don’t want this in the garden. The seed heads will sprout. But this …” I gestured at poplar and mulberry leaves that had blown into our fenced garden from neighbors’ unfenced yards. “It’s beneficial. The leaves will decompose to be some of the best fertilizer, and it won’t burn any plants.”

That “beneficial detritus” now composes part of our yearly soil amendments, alongside goat manure, decomposed hay, kitchen compost, and the whey from my cheesemaking projects. We layer it on, avoiding soil disturbance if we can, then allow the whey and irrigation to boost the microbes and water nutrients down to the plant roots.

In the gardening world, we navigate terms and concepts that can make our heads spin: “organic,” “GMO,” “conventional.” Then, we deal with those less-trustworthy terms: “all-natural,” “low-impact.” What, exactly, do these terms mean for your garden? When choosing seeds and amendments, which do you grab, and why does it matter?

You may know that just because something’s organic doesn’t mean it’s the best choice. And most of us know why we should compost chicken manure before applying it to tender plants. But beyond that — do you choose fish emulsion, bone meal, organic kelp extract, or steer manure? Or a combination? Is there a one-size-fits-all amendment? And does the price point matter?

  • Updated on Jul 23, 2022
  • Originally Published on Jun 21, 2022
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