This week during our community garden classes, we discussed soil health and composting! Soil health is fundamental to growing great crops, as it provides most of the nutrients plants need to thrive. Several factors affect soil health, including soil composition, land use, management practices, weather conditions, and soil structure. Different soil textures—such as sand, silt, and clay—affect the soil’s ability to hold nutrients and water. For example, sand has poor nutrient and water retention, while clay holds nutrients well but has poor drainage. The ideal soil, known as loam, is a balanced mix of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter like compost. This combination ensures good nutrient availability and proper drainage, creating an optimal environment for plant growth.
Adjusting soil composition is essential to meet the specific needs of different plants. Fertilizers, both organic and inorganic, replenish essential nutrients that plants deplete from the soil. Lime is used to adjust soil pH, making it less acidic and adding vital micronutrients like calcium and magnesium. The ideal pH range for most plants is between 6 and 7, though some plants have specific pH preferences. For instance, blueberries thrive in slightly acidic soil, while asparagus prefers neutral to slightly basic conditions. At HIA: Environmental, we have pH probes that can tell you your soil’s pH. If you are interested in testing your soil’s pH, either email skye.gearhart@sealaska.com or ask during class to borrow one!
We also demonstrated how to start your own compost! Composting is an effective way to enhance soil health by providing a rich source of nutrients through the decomposition of organic materials, as well as reducing your trash output. Compost is an organic fertilizer with many benefits for plant growth; it improves soil structure, provides the correct amount of moisture, and increases plant growth. Proper composting involves layering carbon-rich materials like cardboard (dry, brown matter) with nitrogen-rich materials (wet, green matter) like food scraps. Maintain a balance of three times the amount of carbon-rich material to nitrogen-rich material to support microbial activity and nutrient availability. When managing a compost pile, turn or stir the mixture every few days and keep it slightly moist (like a wet sponge, but not soggy). If it becomes too wet, add more browns. Monitor the temperature of the pile, which should ideally heat up to 130–161 degrees F to kill pathogens and weed seeds. If your compost bin doesn’t reach these temperatures—something that’s very challenging in Alaska without a heated bin—it’s best not to add weeds, as their seeds won’t be killed and may sprout when you use the compost. After a few months, you will be left with dark brown, crumbly compost that has an earthy smell, not a foul one. Avoid using compost prematurely, as it can harm your plants. Community members watched and participated in the creation of two different types of compost bins: one made from plastic totes and another from pallet boards.
Matthew Gilliam drilling holes into the bottom of one of the totes. Community members examining Ian Johnson’s compost.
With the plastic totes, drill holes in the bottom of one to allow for air passage and drainage of compost liquids (which make a great fertilizer known as “compost tea”!). For this method, flip or stir your bin every few days to ensure proper airflow. You can even use a third tote with holes to make flipping easier by pouring all the contents into the third tote and then switching its place with the other one.
Gilliam screwing in screws to connect the pallets together.
For the pallets, we built the structure using four pallets and wood screws. There are a few additions that can enhance its composting capabilities. To prevent small pests, such as mice and squirrels, from entering, adding chicken wire to the inside walls will help keep them out and ensure that the compost stays inside the bin. I also highly recommend adding a top to prevent rain from making the mixture too wet.
Matthew Gilliam, a first-time attendee, shared his experiences with composting. In his previous location, composting was a service provided by the state, where his food and yard waste were taken to a facility for processing. After the class, he remarked that our approach is “resourceful” and expressed interest in using a tote for composting in the future.
Thank you to all who attended, and we hope to see you at this week’s garden class on hydroponics and building a simple NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) system! The class will be on August 2nd at 10 AM.
Class Handout with more Composting & Soil Health Information
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