In the lazy, hazy days of summer we are languishing in the past with a series of stand-out throw-back cool tools. Join us until Labour Day as we take a walk down cool tool memory lane.
Our next cool tool in review is cardboard. This is a favourite for a couple of reasons – cardboard is more prevalent than ever due to internet shopping. People may recycle it, but it may also end up in the trash. By re-using cardboard in the garden – it can have a new life helping to supress weeds and build soil. Cutting down trips to the recycle depot too!
One side-benefit that we observed this season as a result of using cardboard as mulch, is the number of garter snakes in the garden has increased, decreasing insect pressures as a result.
Here is our post cool tools post about using cardboard in a composting system from September 21, 2023:
The basic components of lasagna composting are nitrogen (N), carbon (C), oxygen (O2) and water (H2O), proportioned to break down organic matter into good soil.
A layer of cardboard or newspaper is placed on the ground with a layer of brown material (leaves, twigs) and a layer of green material (grass clippings, vegetation) on top. This process will suffocate grass and most weeds as well as prevent weed seeds from germinating. By lasagna composting you can start a new bed without digging.
As with any composting, the basic recipe is 2/3 brown material (C) and 1/3 green material (N) mixed with enough water to wet the material but not too much water that it is soggy. On the other end of the spectrum, too little water stops decomposition.
Why cardboard? It helps to regulate the rate of water and air penetration into the soil as well as acting as a platform for decomposition of the green and brown materials.
Lasagna composting is not an exact science but there are things you can do to help move the process along. The finer your pieces of brown and green material are, the more surface to decompose faster and more completely.
If you are not in a hurry, let Mother Nature get the job done over winter for enriched soil to plant into next spring.
If you have a tool that you would like Small Farm Canada to review, send your suggestion to: editor@SmallFarmCanada.ca
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Source: SooToday.com