Soil Building

Good soil isn’t bought. It’s built by what you add and by how well you understand what is already there. This is where we cover all of it: from building a new bed without a tiller to reading a soil test to managing fertility across acres. Start at the top if you’re new to this. Jump in wherever the problem is if you’re not.

Starting Out: Building New Ground

Sheet Mulching: How to Build a New Bed Without Tilling No Tiller? No Problem! Sheet mulching is an effective way of smothering weeds, feeding your soil, and building a plant-ready bed from cardboard and other mulch.

Understanding What You Have: The Soil Test Series

Three posts, in order. Read them as a series or jump to the one that fits where you are.

How to Get a Soil Test (And What to Do With the Results) Where to send your sample, what the numbers mean at a basic level, and the four things to act on first. The right starting point before you add anything to your ground.

What Your Soil Test Is Actually Telling You The chemistry and biology behind the numbers. pH, organic matter, CEC, base saturation, and the nutrients that don’t get enough attention. For growers who want to understand the system, not just follow the recommendations.

Soil Management at Field Scale: What Changes When You’re Working Acres Cover crops, zone-based sampling, tillage decisions, and when to bring in outside expertise. For small farms and market gardens managing more than garden-scale ground.

Coming Soon…

Reading Land Before You Buy or Lease How to assess a piece of ground before you commit to it. What USDA soil surveys show, what to look for on a site visit, and what problems are fixable versus what will follow you for years.

USDA Programs for Soil Health: EQIP, CSP, and What NRCS Can Do for Your Operation The cost-share programs most small farmers qualify for but don’t apply to, and how to start the conversation with your local NRCS office.

Soil building is a long game. Every season of good management compounds into the next. Start where you are.