Comments on: Of Calcium in the Soil – Part 2

By: Of Calcium in the Soil - Part 5 | MamaStories

Of Calcium in the Soil - Part 5 | MamaStories — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:07:56 +0000

[...] 5 of a series on how nutrients, mainly calcium, get into our soil and vegetables (click for part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4). It is the longest and most difficult part of my expose, and the least [...]

By: Of Calcium in the Soil - Part 7 | MamaStories

Of Calcium in the Soil - Part 7 | MamaStories — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:05:42 +0000

[...] Here we finally meet the plant roots, and investigate how they take up water. Click to read part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4, part 5 and part [...]

By: Of Calcium in the Soil - Part 6 | MamaStories

Of Calcium in the Soil - Part 6 | MamaStories — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 22:18:31 +0000

[...] instead of “soil”, is it really a typo?). Click to catch up on part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 and part [...]

By: Have you ever wonder how calcium in eggsshells make it into your garden vegetables? « Indoor Composters

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:03:32 +0000

[...] Of Calcium in the Soil – Part 2 [...]

By: Of Calcium in the Soil - Part 4 | MamaStories

Of Calcium in the Soil - Part 4 | MamaStories — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:33:04 +0000

[...] into chicken eggs). We’ve had some cliffhangers already, so be sure to check out parts one, two and [...]

By: Leigh

Leigh — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:56:03 +0000

I have clay soil too so this post was highly interesting. CEC was one of the things I had to look up when I got my first soil test back, but I have to say that your explanation is so much better than anything else I found about it.

By: brooklinemama

brooklinemama — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:01:46 +0000

Hi Chris,
I would test the soil, if only to know it better. If your home test is anything like our fish tank water test, you can use it several times. What I would do is have the soil professionally tested, then adjust if necessary, and then use the home test for follow up.
You’re right, the “extension office” *is* an agricultural extension of the state university and they do this kind of thing (some of them also check the gauges on pressure canners, mine doesn’t). I did a quick search online and didn’t find one in Southern California (very strange). But I found this: “Lists of labs are available by contacting the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at (626) 312-4900″ (http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/garden/articles/startup_guide.html). I hope that helps. You know, you could of course also send it further away – the postage won’t cost you much more, and the test might be cheaper. Good luck!

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:35:05 +0000

Hi
Thanks for your response! Based on what you’re saying, I definitely want to get my soil tested. I recently read the term “ask your local extension” in an organic farming book I’m reading. I have no idea what that means. I thought they might be referring to an education “extension” to a University. We have those in Southern California (e.g. UCSD Extension). Can you shed more light on what you mean by “sent in to the extension office”? I spent more for a home kit than the cost you mentioned to have it done professionally. I think I’ll go ahead and use my soil tester, but, it sure would be nice to have more accurate details. I look forward to reading your follow up blogs.

Happy gardening,
Chris

By: Of Calcium in the Soil - Part 3 | MamaStories

Of Calcium in the Soil - Part 3 | MamaStories — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:52:11 +0000

[...] This is the third article in a series on how calcium and other nutrients end up inside our vegetables, and on how to interpret certain soil test results. It is preceded by part 1 and part 2. [...]

By: brooklinemama

brooklinemama — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:53:24 +0000

Hi Chris,

My soil test, sent in to the extension office, cost only $9: this provides pH, Buffer pH, Extractable Nutrients, Extractable Heavy Metals (e.g.. Lead), Cation Exchange Capacity, and Percent Base Saturation, plus recommendations for nutrient and pH adjustment. For an extra $4 I could get the percent of organic matter tested as well. I’d check at your State extension office.

I don’t think a home-done test can get all this information. At first I wasn’t so much interested in the fertility of my soil – I was observing it closely and found it ok – but in the possibility of there being lead in it. But once I got the test and started investigating all that info, I’m glad I got it done.

As to why the bones and eggshells weren’t decomposing, I will get to that in part 6. Or was it 7?