records-of-dirt

[records-of-dirt]

Accessible Raised Beds

Hey y'all!

I've been doing some more work on the accessible raised beds, and it looks like we might start building. I'll drop some photos of the process when I start for anyone interested, but here are the plans:

The grey mats are Trax Mats, designed for people with mobility devices. They can be found here: Trax Mats

Warmly,

records-of-dirt

#solarpunk #permaculture #gardening #cottagecore #community garden #accessibility #accessible gardens #records of dirt

[records-of-dirt]

Q: Accessible Garden Beds

Hey y'all,

I'm putting together a set of three table/garden beds for the Special Education classroom at my school. We're planning on putting Trax mats below it for wheelchairs, but I wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions for it's design!

I've worked with the teacher for measurements, but want to double check the height will be alright.

Warmly,

Records of Dirt

#solarpunk #gardening #landscaping #carpentry #woodwork #accessibility #wheelchair #mobility devices

[records-of-dirt]

Create Your Own Soil Profile!

A garden’s soil is the base of all its growth, and knowing how to properly  interact with your soil can make all the difference!

Step 1 Site Observations

Take a few photos of your site (project area)

Note down:

what vegetation is there?

is it near water?

the slope

approximate exposure to sun

Step 2 Take a soil profile

Set out a tarp or a garbage bag

Dig a hole about 3 feet deep (you may want a friend’s help!)

Place that soil in piles onto the tarp, sorted into different soil layers

Remember horizons! (O, A, E, B, C, R(bedrock))

Make a sketch of a soil profile, and measure the depth of each horizon

The top of the profile should start with 0 cm

Refill the hole, and try to return each type of soil in order!

Step 3 Build your profile

Describe each layer of soil, moisture/structure/color/smell

Use the “feel” method to take notes

Step 4 Drainage

Dig a hole 1 foot deep and 1 foot wide(ish)

Fill the hole with water and measure how long it takes to fully drain

An ideal time is around 10 to 30 minutes!

Note down the time

Keep in mind that even if the soil type would suit desert-like plants more, think of the weather. If it rains a good deal the drainage can matter less(or more!)

Step 5 Biological Activity

Bury a pair of cotton underwear(I know it’s silly)

Wait about 60 days

Unearth the undies, the more tattered they are the more activity there is!

Step 6 pH Testing

OSU Lab for Oregon, and many states have soil testing labs

Soil pH Meter

DIY Test

Step 7 Hardiness Zone

This just takes looking at a map!

Hardiness zones can tell you about the weather’s highs & lows in a particular area

USDA Plant Hardiness Map

And that 's it! It's a lot, and you don’t have to do everything. Each step can provide a better view of how to properly support your garden, and can be fun activities to do with friends and family!

I’ve included a template for a complete soil profile, but feel free to make them as fancy as y’all want!

Sincerely,

records of dirt

#solarpunk #permaculture #soil #geology #gardening #biology #ecology

[records-of-dirt]

Gardening Resources

Books

The Garden Primer by Barbara Damrosch

Residential Landscape Architecture by Norman Booth & James Hiss

Gardening for Butterflies by The Xerces Society

Secrets of Plant Propagation by Lewis Hill

Sepp Holzer's Permaculture by Sepp Holzer

Homegrown Herbs by Tammi Hartung

#solarpunk #gardening #landscaping #resources #permaculture

[records-of-dirt]

PNW Gardening Resources

Books

Northwest Gardener's Handbook by Pat Munts & Susan Mulvihill

Northwest Home Landscaping by Roger Holmes & Don Marshall

Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades by Steve Solomon

PDFs

GardenSmart Oregon, a Guide to Non-Invasive Plants

The Meadowscaping Handbook

Growing Your Own, Growing Vegetables in Oregon

Portland Plant List

Native Host Plants & Butterflys Willamette Valley

Guide to Collecting Wildflower Seed

The Oregon Rain Garden Guide

Native Plants for Willamette Valley

Guidelines for Environmentally Friendly Trails

Programs

Backyard Habitat

Oregon Master Gardener Program

The Meadow Project

Websites

PNW Flowers Database

#pnw #pacific nor #oregon #washington #biodiversity #gardening #permaculture #landscaping #solarpunk

[records-of-dirt]

Basics of Soil

Soil has three main ingredients:

Minerals

Open spaces - which can be filled with air or water

Organic materials - from decomposing plants & animals

Then, these ingredients form different levels or horizons.

Soil Horizons

When I say “rock”, that is an oversimplification!

Rock Types

There are three basic types of rocks:

Soil Composition

How do we define a soil? We look at what type of particle it's mostly made of.

Figuring out what type of soil you have is quite important to a healthy garden, but we’ll cover how to do that a little later.

For now, let's move on to soil quality!

Soil Quality

Soil quality is typically determined based on eight main components.

Up to this point, we’ve talked about soil as something inorganic - but soil is alive.

It teems with life, and when changing the soil in any given area, it's incredibly important to think about how those changes will affect the organisms already living there.

I hope y’all learned something, and have a great day!

Sincerely,

records of dirt

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#records of dirt #ap environmental #biology #solarpunk #gardening #geology #the soil series

[records-of-dirt]

The Shelf

Resources

PNW Gardening Resources General Gardening Resources

Informational Posts

The Basics of Soil Creating Your Own Soil Profile!

Building & Planning

Accessible Raised Beds Plans How to Plan a Garden

#records of dirt

[records-of-dirt]

How to Plan a Garden

When creating a community or school garden, records are important!

Eventually, someone else will take care of the space and records show what the space looked like, what you did, and how they can properly take care of the space. 

Good records require a few basic elements:

The Original Design

Photos of the space before you’ve done anything

A map of the space with dimensions & notes on terrain(slopes, holes, ect.)

What plants were already there

Notes on their original condition

How long they were there(if you know)

Your Design

A dimensions-accurate drawing/map of your design

A list of what you plan to change

Be as specific as possible!

Plant Record

Every plant in the garden

Name

Photo(preferably two, one of “in bloom” and one of “dormant”)

How to care for them

Past issues

Common invasive/non-native plants & how to get rid of them

Plants that cause itching/rashes

Monthly Records

Record major changes(planted, took out, issues, etc.)

Weather (cold, hot, rainfall - how did it impact the garden?)

Tips & techniques (records are also to help you care for your garden)

It can feel like a lot, but it doesn’t have to be fancy!

Records tell the story of the land, and guide current and future generations.

I’ve included a few samples of garden designs, and plant lists, as a starting point!

Happy gardening y'all!

Sincerely,

records of dirt

#garden #community garden #school garden #solarpunk #cottagecore #records of dirt