How to Make and Maintain Soil Fertility

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of making and maintaining soil fertility in your garden, inspired by practices from Geoff Lawton's Zaytuna kitchen garden. Utilizing techniques such as composting, mulching, and companion planting, you can create a diverse and productive garden space that thrives in small areas.

Step 1: Prepare the Garden Beds

To create fertile garden beds, follow these steps:

1. Layer Cardboard or Paper:

   • Start by laying down a layer of cardboard or paper on the ground. This will suppress weeds and improve soil structure as it breaks down.

2. Add Mulch:

   • Top the cardboard with a thick layer of mulch (such as straw, grass clippings, or leaves) to retain moisture and provide nutrients.

3. Create Planting Pockets:

   • Dig small pockets in the mulch and fill them with compost to plant your seeds or seedlings.

4. Special Considerations for Root Crops:

   • For crops like carrots, create a long slot in the mulch, filling it with a sandy mix for better root development.

Step 2: Incorporate Diverse Planting

To enhance biodiversity and soil fertility, consider the following:

1. Choose a Variety of Plants:

   • Mix flowers, vegetables, herbs, and greens. This diversity helps confuse pests and encourages beneficial insects.

2. Utilize Companion Planting:

   • Plant marigolds with tomatoes or basil with lettuces to take advantage of their synergistic qualities.

3. Employ Perennial Plants:

   • Incorporate perennials like spinach and edible borders to create layers in your garden, mimicking a forest ecosystem.

Step 3: Build and Maintain Compost

Composting is essential for maintaining soil fertility:

1. Create a Compost Cage:

   • Use a structure to contain your compost materials, layering them as follows:
     • Layer 1: Shredded brown material (e.g., leaves)
     • Layer 2: Green material (e.g., kitchen scraps)
     • Layer 3: Manure (e.g., chicken or cow manure)

2. Turn the Compost:

   • Turn your compost every few days:
     • First turn on Monday
     • Second turn on Wednesday
     • Third turn on Friday
   • Continue this for three weeks to ensure proper decomposition.

Step 4: Utilize Chicken Manure

Incorporate a chicken tractor into your garden system:

1. Build a Chicken Tractor:

   • Create a mobile enclosure (2 by 8 meters) for chickens to roam, which can be made from recycled materials.

2. Use Chicken Manure:

   • Place grass clippings inside the tractor under the roost to collect manure, which can be used directly for nitrogen-loving plants or added to the compost.

Step 5: Explore Worm Farming

Worm farming is a great method to enrich soil:

1. Set Up a Worm Farm:

   • For smaller gardens, use a sunken bucket filled with compost and worms.

2. Create a Liquid Catchment:

   • Install a birdbath on top of this setup to collect worm tea, a nutrient-rich liquid that can be used to water plants.

3. Consider a Larger System:

   • For larger gardens, you can create a more complex worm farm in a bath setup that catches liquid beneath.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively make and maintain soil fertility in your garden. Focus on layering materials, utilizing diverse planting strategies, and incorporating composting and worm farming techniques to create a thriving ecosystem. As you implement these practices, you will not only improve your soil quality but also cultivate a vibrant and productive garden space. Next, consider exploring more advanced permaculture techniques or expanding your garden with additional crops.