Planting the Food Garden (part two)

We had been provided a selection of seedlings, seeds and herbs from Pete's greenhouse and now came the time to prepare the soil for planting. Steve had cleared the kikuyu beforehand with his Bobcat and it had also been cultivated, so the group was spared the task of starting from scratch. We measured the pH of the soil, determined lime requirements and then applied a mixture of lime, guano and Norfolk Gold. We then covered the 50 sq meter plot in a 10 cm layer of mulch we had produced from prunings and leaves. Watering cans were used to apply the compost tea and Nutri-Life 4/20™ inoculums and the beneficial microbes were thoroughly watered in with hoses. The seeds had been soaked overnight in a NTS product called Stimulate™ and then sun-dried prior to planting. The seedlings were all dipped in a solution containing Platform™, which is an inoculum of Mycorrhizal fungi. These amazing creatures burrow into the plant roots and then create a root extension involving a lace-like network of fine filaments. They can effectively increase root surface area ten-fold and they mine minerals from the soil and deliver them to the plant. This symbiotic relationship is one of the most important on the planet, because it is now known that Mycorrhizal fungi are responsible for one third of all the stable humus in our soils. They produce a carbon-based substance called glomalin that is the trigger for humus formation. Mycorrhizal fungi are missing in most soils and it could easily be argued that they are the single most important creature on the planet at this point in time. Bio-promotants, like fish and kelp (Life-Force Sea-Change™) were watered on to the plot and then we all began planting. It is a remarkably rapid process when many hands are involved and within 40 minutes the seeds were sown, the seedlings planted, the climbing frames installed for runner beans and peas and the herbs were positioned. We all headed to the veranda overlooking the ocean to enjoy a great lunch flushed with the sense of having created something really worthwhile. Full Production in One Month: Becky and Steve's garden was planted on December 9 and Moira and I visited the plot to check the progress on January 11, during our summer holiday on Norfolk. It was a sight to behold. The peas and beans had reached the top of the frames, the robust corn stood 1.5 meters tall. Kale, silver beet and a variety of lettuces were ready for harvest. Cabbages thrived, tall, dense tomato bushes were in full fruit and the herbs were also remarkably mature. Becky gifted us a bag of French bush beans that were amongst the tastiest we have ever eaten. No chemicals had been used in this garden and none were required. Plant vitality was the driver and there was barely a blemish on any of these healthy plants. We are hopeful that some of those involved in the creation of this wonderful food garden will visit Steve and Becky (they are all invited) to witness the fruits of their labours and to recognise that an abundance of nutritious food can be produced so successfully when you work with nature rather than against her.