[Scpg] Sandy soils

[L. Santoyo]

Hello Cory,

I echo the recommendations of Dan and John and, would add that in our
experience growing in coastal sand, we decided to, in effect, created giant
container gardens by excavating garden beds (lining them with chickenwire
for gophers), then filling them with compost.  They were classic
permaculture "floating lenses" -beds of soil on the sand- and, along with
modified "pit gardens" were planted with fruit and leguminous trees. See
chapters on soils and drylands in the Designer's Manual.

But yes, even with that, the beds required seemingly constant additions of
organic matter.  If we were to be in that situation again, I think I would
try that cardboard glee-esque underlayer (or try old carpets even).

I would also focus on using compost teas, feeding the plants through their
leaves, as well as the roots, and inoculate the soil with indigenous
microorganisms (and perhaps, fungal species as well).

Have fun experimenting!

Kathryn



On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 8:46 AM, Cory Brennan <cory8570 at yahoo.com> wrote:

>  Well, I'm in Florida grappling with incredibly sandy soils.  I mean, this
> is like beach sand, even inland!  And they're trying to grow grass lawns
> here, it's pretty ridiculous.  Lots of interesting groundcover weeds grow
> instead usually. I'm still figuring out which are edible. Most are nitrogen
> fixing - clover, ornamental peanut, etc.
>
>  I'm looking for relatively fast ways to create veggie beds so that the
> nutrients don't all leach right through the sand.
>
> One person suggested using a barrier of compacted organic material to slow
> nutrient loss while letting water go through (layers of cardboard/organic
> stuff - a watered down version of "glee").    Has anybody on this list had
> experience with very sandy soils and remedying them simply, quickly and
> relatively inexpensively?
>
> Cory
>
>
> _
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