Growing Guide Cheat Sheet (Copy)
“The 5 things every living thing needs to not just survive but thrive in the garden”
Sun, water, nutrients, air, and love. Without these 5 things, all of life on earth wouldn’t exist
“Every living thing thrives best with a friend”
Humans and plants alike thrive in community! Plants enjoy having other plant companions nearby. Their root systems intermingle with one another and cycle nutrients throughout the soil.
“Plant full”
Plants thrive in community, both in the rhizosphere (root zone) and the phyllosphere (above ground). Always plot-plan with a combination of shallow, medium, and deeply rooted plants. That’s how you maximize nutrient cycling and create a “living mulch” of greenery that protects and builds the soil and feeds the microbes to keep the soil alive.
“As above so below”
The tap root below the ground can be as deep as the plant is tall above the ground. The feeder roots can grow as broad in the soil as the leaves are in the air. Keep this in mind while plot planning your garden bed.
“Your finger is your best tool“
Your index finger is your best tool to check whether your soil is moist enough. Stick your finger down to the second knuckle. If the soil isn’t sticking to your finger when you pull it out, it isn’t hydrated enough.
“Roots don’t grow in the soil, they grow in the air in the soil”
Roots will have a much harder time growing in compacted soil. This is why it’s important to keep the soil light and fully when planting. Also, healthy soil is filled with worms that are creating pathways in the soil and aerating it, making room for the roots to spread themselves.
“Water isn’t wet, it makes things wet”
Water molecules are attracted to each other, not to the surface we intend to hydrate. Water won’t penetrate a dry surface, the surface has to be wet in order for the water molecules to penetrate. If the soil is dry, we call it “conditioned hydrophobia”, so the water will just roll off. This is why we use drip irrigation-- it mimics the rain which penetrates naturally. The flow must be slow and steady.
“Did you put your love in it?”
The most important question in the garden! Nothing in the garden will thrive if you don’t put your love and care into it, whether you are planting, maintaining, or harvesting. Act mindfully and be intentional with how you treat the plants.
“The bigger the longer the smaller the shorter”
In reference to the compost, the bigger the item, the longer it will take to break down. The smaller it is, the shorter amount of time it will take to break down. This is why it’s important to chop your compost into small pieces when you add it to the bin
“50% greens, 50% browns, and wet like a wrung out sponge”
In order to maintain a healthy compost bin, make sure that you are adding an equal amount of “greens” and “browns” and are watering it so that it is wet like the moisture of a sponge after you squeeze it— not sopping wet but moist enough.
