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« Last post by JCorte on March 18, 2024, 12:18:33 PM »
Epiphyte, thank you for the info on germination and the offer of seeds, maybe I'll take you up on it one day.
Satya, watched your video. Thank you for sharing, I've been off the forum for awhile, but will be updating posts on my projects soon. My favorite posts on the forum are when people share how and what they are growing and especially when I get to see photos of all the different growing spaces and plants. So want to contribute to the forum in that way as well.
I consider wood chip or chop and drop mulch and living mulch both important in how I grow.
Mulch is beneficial for a number of reasons that we are all familiar with like protecting the soil and holding in moisture.
Living plants used as a living mulch may even be more beneficial if you have the right plants for your growing conditions. Not only does it provide ground cover and protection holding moisture, it's the root exudates on growing plants that feed the soil microorganisms in the rhizosphere buffering pH and turning minerals into a usable form by plant roots. Plants capture carbon and contribute to the hydrologic cycle. It seems counterintuitive but I've found that plants in groups hold moisture longer and grow better together. There are exceptions of course, finding the right plants that don't dominate.
The science of soil microbiology is evolving rapidly. What seemed like settled science just a few years ago are being challenged. There's a lot of fascinating stuff happening beneath our feet. Many are aware now how important mycorrhizal fungi are. There are also studies finding that roots exude light underground, why are they sending out light waves in the darkness of the earth? The more people that start growing in a way that protects and supports our soil, the closer we get to growing to our potential.
Janet