Soil Test Results

Today I had the pleasure of opening my soil test results from UMass' Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Lab.  I actually got the results by pdf last Friday -- but since I was busy with the Northwest Flower and Garden show and our raised bed, I didn't quite get to the results.  It was a pleasant surprise to find the envelope in our mailbox since I had forgotten about UMass' e-mail -- and there is something somehow more exciting to getting your results when you get to tear paper in the process. 

In reading my soil test results, I noticed something about myself -- I don't like to read technical language.  I like technical information but I prefer it delivered through a journalist or an enthusiast.  I am ashamed to admit that I could feel my reticence rise just from the formatting of the words on the page.  And I could feel my brain slow with even the briefest mention of phrases like: soil PH adjustment, ground dolomitic limestone, per 100 square feet....  I think I just know that I am in over my head. 

So I reminded myself that it is okay to fail.  That I am taking on a lot this year with hardscape, irrigation, plant choices, etc. -- and I can work up to the specifics of scientific soil management over time.  This year I am (for the most part) working with fresh soil since I chose to try raised beds.  The soil I had tested won't really be nourishing the majority of my crops (though it could leach) -- and my fruit garden might just have to deal with another year of benign neglect (though there seemed to be no red flags in the results and I do promise to water more regularly this year.)

Finally, I did get the good news I was hoping for -- no significant levels of lead.  So this scaredy cat farmer has bought herself some piece of mind by having a proper soil test done: I won't be poisoning my kids with our produce.  That in itself made my day.

A scaredy-cat gardener does a soil test

So today I realized I should have called this blog -- the Scaredy-Cat Gardner because I swear I am gardening through fear.  I face each task with a bit of dread mixed with anticipation.  Today I decided to tackle the soil test.  I have been putting this off for a while -- mostly thinking that the soil was too wet to test.  True, the directions from UMass Soil Testing specifically mention to avoid sampling 'very wet soils' -- but I also hear that I am supposed to sample before I plant and in the Northwest it rains.  Today is our third dry day in a row so my regular excuse gave me no defense.

My other fear about soil testing was it would be difficult.  Ha.  Again, only in the mental preparation.  I picked three sites to sample and found that my cultivator easily went into the soil (it has been above freezing overnight for weeks.)  A few twists and I loosened enough to put in my Tupperware. 

In the end, I only need a cup of soil for my sample.  UMass recommended at least 12 scattered subsamples -- I collected over a cup easily.  I continued following directions and laid out my samples on cookie sheets covered in clean paper and set them on the kitchen table under the ceiling fan to dry.  What UMass didn't tell me was to look for wiggling things.  Trust me, if you are as worried as I am about creepy crawlies -- the big stuff is already gone by time you get inside -- but it turns out there are a bunch of mini-worms that look like root hairs that start moving around once the soil is spread out. 

I starting to worry about how I am going to overcome my discomfort with bugs.  After my soil test I wandered around my yard and saw that the tyfon I planted as a cover crop over a bed I want to fill with wildflowers in the spring is getting big.  The package said it could be used as a turnip when mature.  So I pulled one to take a peek.  It looked mature (though I don't cook with turnips so I don't know what to do with it now) -- but it also looked like someone else already had the first nibbles.

And memories flooded back to me of earlier garden tries -- including a Mexican bean beetle infestation and worms in my brocoli. ... Deep breath ... I am doing this for my kids.  And I will fake whatever confidance I need to for them -- but really, is it okay to share food with the rest of the natural world?  I rarely share food with other people. 

So I am not changing the title of the blog.  I plan to push past my fears, to gain some knowlege and some experience.  I expect to transform from a scaredy-cat to a (sub)urban farmer.  This is just step one.  And to help myself out, I looked for good signs in the garden and found these buds starting on the blueberry bush that did well last year.