Howdy i am in the 7th grade and go to Jefferson Middle school in GA. We our doin a project over self-sufficiant living our there ne helpfull information you can give me on how to start a organic garden? help! thanks

Hi crayolawonderful, and welcome to the board! I'm so glad you found us and are doing a school project on such a terrific topic. People like you give me hope for a bright future!

I think one of the most important things to know about starting an organic garden is that a healthy garden needs healthy soil.

Many people think of dirt as just a place for plants to put their roots, but it's actually a living, breathing ecosystem. It's full of not only earthworms, but millions of tiny insects and other creatures too small to see. These worms, insects, and tiny creatures (called micro-organisms) help turn the soil into a healthy place for plants to live by taking dead plant matter and turning it into food for the plants.

So when you're starting an organic garden, the first thing to do is to feed the soil with "organic matter."

"Organic matter" just means anything that was once alive. For your garden, good organic matter includes leaves, grass clippings, vegetable waste from the kitchen, and manure from vegetarian animals (cows, horses, rabbits, chickens, for instance).

The organic matter will help your soil creatures grow and multiply and create the rich soil you need to grow healthy plants.

You can put organic matter into the soil by tilling it in, or you can start a lasagna garden by layering the organic matter directly on top. For more information on lasagna gardening (which is how I grow my garden), you can do a google search, search these forums, or just ask--I'll be happy to outline it for you, or someone else here may.

Thanks again for asking, and good luck on your project!!

Heather

As Heather has indicated soil is the most important part of an organic garden and that starts with taking a good look at the soil. These simple test may well get you a good science class grade too, so start with these;

1) Structure. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fillting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it it for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. A good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. Your primary concern is the OM level and yours may be pretty good.

2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart.

4) Smell. What does your soil smell like. Pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer you soil will smell.

5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy.

The jar test is a good demonstration project, especially of you can find two different types of soil (maybe even more) to test.

Composting can also be a good scienc class project and a good place to start research there is at
http://www.mastercomposter.com/

hey it Alison (the person that posted this) um.. well thank so much for all the help!! It awesome!! If u have ne more important/helpfull tip PLEASE email me at penguinperkey@aol.com ne info on self sufficant living wud be much appreicated!! THANK you so much!

That's a cool idea! I wish every school (from preschool to university) had a garden--or two or three.

BTW, I like your name. I still think crayolas are quite wonderful; I bought a brand new box of 96 colors tonight at Target. :x --J--

Thank u so much for the help i really need it!! me and 6 friend r doin self suffient living for a project in a class! We are goin to start out garden mon. so wish us luck!! And we started gettin compost ready and stuff likethat!! Well if u have ne other tip plz tell me thanky!! Ali

Hi crayolawonderful. Welcome!

Rodale Institute (Organic Gardening) has a 'GREAT' site for kids of all ages.
Check it out!
http://www.kidsregen.org/index.php

Happy Gardening!

Crayolas are soy-based these days, too... As I discovered when I left two different kinds of crayons out in the rain last year. Crayolas swelled up and disintegrated; the paraffin-based ones did not.

Yay, to compostable crayons! :^O

Crayolawonderfull -- Awesome project. Don't forget to add lots of references to poop! (Ahem. You didn't hear it from ME, of course.)