Page 49 - Bringing out the Potential In Our Children - Gardeners - Food Producers

Appendix: “From the Ground Up”

I’ve included a copy of my booklet “From the Ground Up” for some more

information for beginner gardeners (although not specific to children) Enjoy!

From The Ground Up
Preface
This book will get you started growing nutritious wholesome food in your garden and creating
abundance around you.
SITE AND SOIL- First, choose a garden spot that gets at least 6 hrs of sunlight and preferably
some protection from the wind. Then you want a good healthy, nutritious rich soil, which is
your foundation of all the growth which will take place in your garden. Healthy soil produces
healthy plants, less susceptible to pests and disease. In your soil you want a good mixture of
rich humus material and dense coarser material for the ultimate mix. A sandy loam is ideal. It
holds onto water and plant food but it also drains well, and air moves freely between soil
particles down to the roots. Adding compost or well-rotted manure will benefit any type of soil.
Also check the pH of your soil. If the pH level is below 6, the soil is too acidic, and you need to
add ground limestone. If the measurement is above 7.5, the soil is too alkaline for most
vegetables, and you need to add soil sulfur.
SEEDS AND SEEDING- Onto the seeds, check the seeds for their germination rate. There is
nothing worse than putting in all the effort of planting and caring for the new planted seeds and