How to Grow More Vegetables

Compost Functions Compost has a dual function. It improves the structure of the soil. This means the soil will be easier to work ...

nutrients for plant growth, and its organic acids make nutrients in the soil more available to plants. Fewer nutrients leach out ...

Compost is created from the decomposition and recombination of various forms of plant and animal life, such as leaves, grass, wo ...

bodies of microbial life. As humus is formed, nitrogen becomes part of its structure. This stabilizes nitrogen in the soil becau ...

onto the surface of the humus. An active exchange is set up between humus and roots, the plants “choosing” which nutrients they ...

can hold onto and exchange a far greater amount of these nutrients. Give back to the soil as much as you have taken—and a little ...

compost. The microbial life provides a living pulsation in the soil that preserves its vitality for the plants. The microbes tie ...

Note that at least three di<erent materials of three di<erent textures are used in the GROW BIOINTENSIVE method compost re ...

Compost piles can be built in a pit in the ground or in a pile above the ground. The latter is preferable, since during rainy pe ...

The least expensive type of compost container is homemade. For those who wish to use them, containers can help shape a pile and ...

may now use the enclosure to build another pile, or you may use it later to turn the 9rst pile into if you want to speed up the ...

Modular box type ...

Open pile type Large wire-fabric type Note: There are more than 6 billion microbial life-forms in only 1 level teaspoon of ...

There are more than 6 billion microbial life-forms in only 1 level teaspoon of cured compost—almost the number of people on Eart ...

materials used. Cross Section of a Grow Biointensive Compost Pile The best time to prepare compost is in the spring or autumn, w ...

Organic matter feeds plants through nutrient exchange and through nutrient release upon its decomposition. It is a continual sl ...

Building the Pile The ground underneath the pile should be loosened to a depth of 12 inches to provide good drainage. Next, lay ...

releases nutrients over a 3-month period (and up to 5,000 years!) especially if the mature materials contain a large amount of l ...

reintroducing air. All kitchen scraps may be added except meats and sizable amounts of oily salad scraps. Be sure to include bon ...

As each layer is added, water it thoroughly so the pile is evenly moist—like a wrung-out damp sponge that does not give out exce ...