Master Gardener Bruce Matter talks about composting at a booth during a recent gardening event at the Hancock County Public Library.
Submitted photo
GREENFIELD — Dreaming of a beautiful garden this spring?
Dig a little deeper into soil health, local agricultural experts say.
Hancock County Purdue Extension recently formed a new local group called Gathering Roots and Strengthening Soil Health Science (GRASS). The group is designed to help anyone with soil health questions and advice, and Master Gardener Marsha Burkhardt says getting the dirt on soil health is “absolutely key” to a successful garden.
“If people have a question about how healthy their soil is, they can always go take a sample to their extension office,” Burkhardt said. “It’s always a good idea, especially this time of year. If you need to add nutrients or acid, you can do that to balance (the soil).”
A lifelong Hancock County resident, Burkhardt has been working to convert her three acres of New Palestine area farmland into pasture, with plenty of room for perennials and wildflowers. This year, she hopes to attract more butterflies.
Burkhardt took part in a program March 19 at the Hancock County Public Library called “Gardening from the Ground Up.” The event joined the general public with GRASS leaders, including master gardeners, Purdue representatives and members of the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District and Natural Resource Conservation Service.
“We aim to reach new and underserved audiences such as backyard farmers and gardeners, church gardens, and small-scale agricultural production operations in or near towns,” said Casey Kennett, urban soil health specialist, in a press release.
People producing vegetables, fruit, flowers, livestock and even beekeepers can benefit from GRASS, she said, through answering questions on soil tests and sampling, cover crops, crop management, high tunnels or even container gardening.
“In other words, if you’re not sure how you fit with our program, ask us anyway,” Kennet said. “Soil health is for everyone, and we are excited to promote and improve urban and small farm soil health in Indiana.”
Those wanting to start a garden or even those that have been gardening for years can bring a sample to Purdue Extension or simply call and ask, said Lais McCartney, agriculture and natural resources educator for Purdue Extension Hancock County. She said Purdue will not only send in the soil sample to be analyzed, but also help people read and understand the results of the test.
Bruce Matter attended the event at the library and is looking forward to a third year with raised garden beds, where he grows flowers, tomatoes, peppers, onions, carrots and more.
Matter, also a master gardener, said Purdue has been an excellent resource for him over the years and has learned all about composting for a successful garden.
“As long as it’s loose and retains some water and drains quickly it seems to work fine because I’ve had excellent produce ever since I started the raised garden, since its all natural ingredients,” Matter said, adding that Purdue has a huge selection of publications and resources to help gardeners. “They’ve got all about how to start a garden and monthly checklists for things to do in the garden for each month. It’s a good place to start, it’s excellent.”
For more on soil health or GRASS, call Purdue Extension Hancock County at 317-462-1113.
