Those who don’t have much experience with gardening, but would like to give it a try this spring, can check out these tips from local soil consultant Laurel Robertson.
• Locate your garden in good sun (southern exposure) - 40%-50% shade cloth can be used in summer, if needed.
• Increase soil organic matter through compost and cover crops.
• Disturb the soil as little as possible (i.e. - don't repeatedly plow or till).
• Keep the soil continually planted, or at least covered with mulch. NO BARE SOIL!
• Use chlorine- and chloramine-free water to irrigate. If you have only chlorinated water, treat it with humic acid to remove the chloramine.
• Buy organic seeds and plant starts. They contain the microorganisms they need to thrive within their seed coats.