Tag Archives: first principles

Episode 204. First Principles Continued: Mindset

This is the World Organic News for the week ending 24th of  February 2020.

Jon Moore reporting!

Decarbonise the air, recarbonise the soil!

The growing of soil, the apparent apathy towards action on climate change in some parts of the world and the need to do something, now has me in a reflective state today. 

Mindset is critical to the process of removing weeds from the land you are caring for. It takes time, it takes the correct actions too but essentially it’s a matter of mindset. Yes I have weeds to deal with, no I probably won’t solve the problem overnight, in a week or even a season but I will work with the ecology of the weed to remove that weed. It all sounds a bit jedi but it really works. Holding onto the plan based upon the lifecycle of the weed when everyone else in the district is splashing about with the glyphosate takes some courage of your convictions. Continue reading →

Episode 201. First Principles Continued: Manures

This is the World Organic News for the week ending 3rd of  February 2020.

Jon Moore reporting!

Decarbonise the air, recarbonise the soil!

This week we are delving into the font of fertility: Manures.

The lifeblood  of organic production, manures keep your fertility ticking along. Fertility determines your production. Choosing which one to use can be fraught with complications.

What do the NPK numbers mean? Can I trust the figures provided? How do they relate to the seeds I’m using? How much sleep should I lose worrying about this? Continue reading →

Episode 199. First Principles Continued: Seeds

This is the World Organic News for the week ending 20th of January 2020.

Jon Moore reporting!

Decarbonise the air, recarbonise the soil!

This week we continue our journey down the first principles rabbit whole with a look at seeds.

Seeds are a many splendored thing! From the dust like powder of Tiff seeds all the way up to monster broad bean seeds, they all have one thing in common: They are life in suspended animation.

Our task as gardeners is to release that life into its most favoured conditions.

Thankfully, most seeds have similar needs and this makes our tasks somewhat simple. 

Before we get to actually sowing, and that’s different module, let’s look at our options. Continue reading →