Soil – Beautify Balham

Not many of us relish the idea of digging a bed in our garden or plot. No matter how big or small a patch we want to create, it’s a back aching task! But there is good news… and it’s called a ‘no dig bed’! It’s good for the environment, and it’s particularly handy when you want to create a vegetable patch.

So why is not digging up the ground better for the environment? Firstly you are keeping carbon in the soil by not digging it up. Also because it has not been disturbed you will not need to water it as much, as the moisture is held better, and you are then saving on water resources.

There are a few ways of going about it and you should consider what your specific needs are, but below is an outline of how it works that should work for most situations.

Firstly, you need to create a border for your vegetable patch. Typically, people use bricks, planks of wood or old railway sleepers. Some people don’t even bother with a hard border.

Next you need to line the bottom of the patch with cardboard. This kills weeds off by starving them of light. No need to dig, just lay the cardboard on the ground. Keeping the ground undisturbed protects the carbon-based microscopic life that keep the soil healthy. Eventually the vegetable crop roots will reach down and access the nutrients.

Next pour some compost or soil on top of the cardboard. Ideally building the bed up with at least 10cm of compost on top of the cardboard.

Pull apart the soil and place your plants or seeds and that, as they say, is that!

No dig beds can be an easier way to get into gardening, and help preserve your lawns by leaving soil undisturbed. Share your no dig bed experiences with us using the hashtag #BeautifyBalham!

– Fintan and the Beautify Balham Team

Sources:
_{https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-great-garden-revolution/on-demand/71997-004
https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/garden/a30609738/no-dig-gardening/
https://www.growveg.co.uk/guides/the-advantages-of-no-dig-gardening/
https://www.kebur.co.uk/sleepers-garden-landscaping/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-shovel-296232/
https://www.lovethegarden.com/uk-en/article/how-create-vegetable-garden}

What is composting?
Composting is the conversion of biodegradable, organic matter into compost.

Raw vegetable or fruit waste, garden waste, and shredded paper make up some of the “raw materials” used for composting, resulting in nutrient-rich fertiliser. Composting is an entirely natural process, and can be done in a compost bin or in a corner of your garden.
In Wandsworth the council subsidizes compost bins, and you can purchase one for a reduced price. You can go to the Get Composting website for more information to start composting in Balham: https://www.getcomposting.com

Composting can be done in most gardens – though smaller gardens may benefit from a wormery instead – a system of converting organic matter into compost with the help of earthworms. The Urban Worm Community Interest Company recently featured in The Guardian with their mission to #wormup the country – giving worms to people & organisations across the country for use in their own DIY worm farms. They provide guides on how to build DIY worm farms on their website: https://theurbanworm.co.uk/wormup/#Videos

Another cheap and cheerful way to recycle and add goodness to the soil is to collect fallen leaves! Bagging up leaves in black bin bags, tying them up then making holes in the bags allowing the leaves to rot down into a mulch can also help your soil. This mulch can be stored behind a shed or at the bottom of the garden until use the following year with the compost, or on its own.

What are the benefits of composting?

You reduce your household waste and, by extension, landfill waste.
In reducing household waste you also reduce the costs and carbon emissions it takes to transport and process the waste.
You benefit from free compost full of nutrients that can be used as an excellent soil improver for your garden and pots.
It reduces the need for chemical fertilisers.
You actively participate in reducing your carbon footprint.

My composting experience

I started composting in August 2019 and although I find the worms, small bugs and tiny flies which sometimes appear in the summer rather disturbing, the process of composting never ceases to astound me. We are a family of 5. I add all the suitable waste we produce to the compost bin on a daily basis, and every day the waste gets absorbed and decomposes overnight. The composting magically occurs and results in beautiful, dark, nutrient-rich soil that I then add to my garden. What is there not to admire?

However, there are a few things I’ve picked up that I’d like to share with anyone who may start composting for themselves:

Avocado stones and skin take forever to decompose.
Mango stones are also very slow to decompose.
Egg shells should be crushed before they go in the compost bin or they make perfect little homes for worms.
The tiny stickers on apples should not be added as they sadly do not decompose:

Do not hesitate to give composting a go – it has numerous benefits, is relatively easy to do and can really enrich your garden & plants!
Have you got any tips for composters? Have you recently started composting yourself? Let us know how you get on using social media with the hashtag: #BeautifyBalham.
Happy composting!

– Justine and the Beautify Balham Team