Life in the Garden - Garden Gift 8
The garden is abounding with life. My garden and I together create the perfect nutrient-rich environment to support life and allow it to grow to its highest genetic potential. My organic garden is teaming with life that passes life on to me and my family. The molecules that grow into my vegetables, nurture the molecules that become me, my husband and children and occasionally the dog!
The secret to this life-giving garden is in the soil. Plants take in sunlight and create carbohydrates and proteins. Some of which are then excreted through their roots in the rhizosphere (the area right around the roots).
Bacteria and Fungi are attracted to the roots to consume the excrement and sloughed off cells from the roots.
The bacteria and fungi are eaten by protozoa and nematodes. The nutrients that the protozoa and nematodes don’t need are released as nutrients for the plants in the rhizosphere.
Protozoa and nematodes are eaten by arthropods. Arthropods are the insects that have segmented bodies such as spiders, moths, flies, grasshoppers, butterflies, bees, ants, beetles and more.
Arthropods are eaten by snakes, toads, birds and other animals.
Earth worms that live in the soil eat bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes. If you have a healthy worm population then you have a healthy soil food web.
All dead plants, animals, and bugs are eaten by the bacteria and fungi to add nutrients to the soil.
Animal dung is consumed by the bacteria and fungi and also adds nutrients back to the soil.
All of the eating and decomposing has byproducts of nutrients that feed the plants. The soil food web is a delicate structure. If one of the players is removed from the game then the food web can be disrupted and not work.
So here is how all this comes together. The minerals in the soil are broken down by the microbes and are made available to the plants. The plants take up the minerals which then become part of the plants. We eat the plants and the minerals in plant form are readily absorbed by our bodies to become a part of us. This is a healthy food chain that supports healthy humans. When we eat food that is grown from a chemical fertilizer this healthy food chain is broken. The plants are lacking in minerals and so are we.
To support this living garden you will need an easy to follow system, The High Performance Garden Show is a free resource to help you develop the garden of your dreams. Are you ready to get started? Watch the 2016 gardening season in real time with me as your garden coach!
Start watching the garden show at – http://thelivingfarm.org/high-performance-garden-show/
In the meantime, what #gardengifts have you been given this year? Share in the comments below! I would love to share in your garden’s successes.
Until then, may your garden be easy, fun, productive and always organic!
Lynn
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