THE REGENERATIVE GROWER’S GUIDE TO GARDEN AMENDMENTS
- A soil plant model discussing minerals, biology, organic matter cycling, voltage and acidity.
- Evaluate the effects of human and natural interventions on mineral availability, pathogen and insect susceptibility
- Sustainable, regenerative approaches for nurturing plants, soil and the entire ecosystem. What's in your back yard?
- Influencing plants during specific phases of development
- Garden tools
- Compost, cover crops, mulches and weeds
The magic of photosynthesis is what drives life on earth. Some plant photosynthesis energy is delivered and stored in the soil forming a battery that drives the entire plant soil ecosystem. Increasing stable organic matter, tilth and biological diversity improves the ability of the soil to hold charge, exchange gases, manage water and support biology needed for plant health. Increasing plant photosynthesis efficiency is a key aspect of increasing plant and soil health.
Growing plants for agricultural purposes requires human interventions, a disruption of the soil structure and the flow of energy between plants and the soil ecosystem. What are the effects of your actions on the plant soil ecosystem?
Making and using homemade mineral and biological amendments mimics nature’s way of nurturing the plant soil ecosystem. They are simple to make using locally sourced materials - fruit from the plant wanted to grow, weeds, egg shells, sea shells, shrimp, lobster, crab shells, bones, seaweed and other mineral rich organic materials - often closing waste gaps. These are empowering and sustainable methods of growing.
Homemade mineral amendments are in plant proportions and forms so plants can use them directly without the need of plant energy to convert into usable forms. They are very inexpensive, often closing waste gaps, and do not require the building of processing plant, plastic packaging, transportation or human costs of store bought products making them truly sustainable. Ideas and methods are supported with measurable data.
Detailed mineral analysis of these homemade amendments has been completed and the results are available on the analysis tab of this web site.
Experimental Gardener
Nigel is a lifelong gardener who relies on the amazing complexity of nature to inspire his gardening philosophy. After the realization that growing nutrient-dense food was the family’s best health care program option, he dove into reading and exploring resources that would teach him the wisdom that indigenous peoples have relied on for millennia--working WITH nature's processes, harnessing the power of free, local resources to grow delicious, nutritious food.
Thirty-six years as an aerospace engineer sorting, organizing, and resolving complex technical issues honed the skills needed to navigate, understand and communicate the complexities of plant soil health.
He is an author, educator, speaker, curriculum developer and instructor of the soil health portion of the holistic education program at "The Institute of Sustainable Nutrition," a school founded and directed by his wife, Joan Palmer, an educator, nutritionist, herbalist and gardener herself.
