Gardening is a healthy hobby for people of all ages and backgrounds.
While it doesn’t require any special skills or deep knowledge, it can trigger the brain in ways that can eventually prove beneficial for one’s mental health.
Not only does being outside and working with our hands help us live in the moment and allow our bodies to breathe fresh air, but there’s also something deeper than that.
It’s good to play in the dirt.
You see, the soil contains a certain type of bacteria that quite literally make us happy.
According to one study, this bacteria has been found to “stimulate areas of the brain and produce serotonin which helps us to feel good,” the experts explained.
It gives us a legitimate “boost”.
This is why gardening is so good for seniors, but it’s also a great way to creatively pass the time with your kids, teaching them how plants grow.
Planting and keeping a garden also shows them how we can help save the environment while increasing food security and ensuring food network independence.
The best part about gardening is finally seeing your reward.
Harvests are often surprising.
Unfortunately, not all soil conditions support optimal plant growth in all plants. In other words, not all kinds of soil are equally fertile.
And not all plants thrive in fertile soil, either. Even plants have their preferences. Luckily, we can increase our garden soil fertility by following a few simple steps.
Burying is the easiest way.
Now, keep in mind that the roots of the plants and the microorganisms that are necessary for our plants are located in the first six inches of soil.
That means that whatever we bury, we should bury no deeper than the first 6 inches.
To bury or not to bury?
What can be buried to encourage healthier plants and more crops to harvest?
Jag Singh from Daisy Creek Farms dedicated a whole YouTube video to that topic and explained what and why one should bury in their garden.
First of all, bury kitchen scraps.
Just don’t bury all of them. Different kinds of vegetables or fruit leftovers contain minerals that are necessary for soil fertility, like potassium found in bananas.
Fungi like mushrooms are also great because they attract earthworms, which are necessary for healthy soil.
Then there are egg shells. They contain calcium that gets eventually absorbed by the soil but do not be fooled.
Jag warns viewers that egg shells take at least six months to decompose. So, this is going to take some time.
Next up is cardboard.
Believe it or not, earthworms love cardboard, they find shelter under it and it helps them get more air.
Another great thing to bury in soil is stale bread. It does not only absorb moisture, but it also feeds worms, turning the bread into an organic fertilizer.
Brewed coffe grounds are also a good idea. They absorb moisture, and at the same time, they provide food for the worms that are so beneficial for your garden.
Yard waste helps too.
Grass clippings and fallen leaves are perfect for burying in the soil. They cost you nothing, and they do a great job, too.
However, you need to make sure you don’t overdo it because soil microorganisms may consume a lot of nitrogen in order to digest them.
Learn some of the easiest ways to boost your garden soil for free in the video below!
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