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Re: Mel's soil mix

I have 4x8 raised beds in this wonderful Nebraska clay.  I "double dug"  my
beds.
I removed the sod and tossed it on the compost pile.  I then then dug two
feet down. 
In one bed, and then remembering what Mel said about double digging on the
next bed
I removed a foot of dirt, dug up the next foot.  Then put the first foot
back.  I also about
every 4 squares dig even deeper, just to give the water someplace to go. 
At this time
I added about 40 Gallons of Compost (from the city compost pile).  Black
gold but
I really should have sifted it.  And then a half dozen gallons of
vermiculite.  The five foot
tall bag from the back room of the gardening center cost as much as a 1
gallong bag at
the retail front counter.  The adding of ammendments and digging up the
soil raised by
8-10 inches.  I happened to use pressure treated lumber but their seems to
be 
arguments against doing that.  We had major tree damage from a Sneak snow
storm
back in October so I find myself with a good number of nice sized logs.  I
think I may use
them for my next beds. 

The first year I did SqFoot I did it on the ground after having only
disturbed the top foot
of soil.  All my crops did great in hot weather but otherwise were very
slow to do anything.
I dug up one square and found that the undisturbed clay a foot down was
stopping the
water from draining.  So if you have nice sandy soil you could put Mel's
mixture on top.
If you have clay you will need to give it drainage.  My new (well drained)
beds are fantastic.
When I mention what I am growing and in what space, my fater-in-law keeps
telling
me I am growing too much.  I just laugh as I go out to pick another salad,
with fresh lettuce,
herbs, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, chives...

Ron Souliere

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