The Importance of Mulch: May/June 2022 Newsletter
The Importance of Mulch: May/June 2022 Newsletter
Now More Than Ever, It's Essential To Save Water
A Guide To Mulch
By Claire Gerard
These wood chips and chunks of wood deteriorate and feed soil microorganisms. The bricks, here used to border a path, maintain a cooler, damper environment two inches underground along their route.
Mulch is a protective covering on the soil surface that:
Enriches the soil
Controls weeds
Retards crusting of the soil
Moderates soil temperatures
CONSERVES MOISTURE
NOW’S THE TIME!
Soak the soil first.
Use newspaper, straw, wood chips, paper shreds, shredded leaves, dry lawn clippings, cardboard, compost.
Aim for a 3 to 4 inch thickness after settling.
Water directly.
Apply thinly around seedlings to allow air circulation.
Keep from touching plant bases to avoid fungal infections.
Add more mulch when it gets thin.
Straw ( not hay, which contains seeds) is a great mulch for these baby corn plants
A King's Version of the Greek Salad
By David King
Those ripe and delicious tomatoes and cucumbers sing the early summer songs and I drift away with visions of previous Summers blessed with these delicious. This recipe (not really a recipe in the strictest of ways), is a part of Summers since childhood. Here is the close to equal amounts of fresh tomatoes and fresh cucumbers. Do not slice neatly, but quickly and crudely chunk them into more or less bite sized pieces. I will be using San Marzano tomatoes and Armenian cucumbers for most of these this year. I love it! Greek salad with Italian tomatoes and Armenian cukes! Life in America.
Besides cukes and tomatoes, you will need a bit of everything below – keep them on hand throughout the summer and you'll be grateful more than once.
Olive oil – enough to generously coat each bite, not so much as to float anything
Pepper to taste
Small slices of red onion for a some zing (the Italian 'Torpedo,' or Tropea onions are one of my favorites) – the zing really brings out the lusciousness of everything else. The onions should not be the main attraction.
Crushed dried oregano (I like the Greek oregano)
Homemade or a really good store bought feta cheese also cut into chunks.
Mix them all together with laughter; the actual order things are placed in the bowl is not all that important, it's a forgetful, or disorderly, cook's dream!
Serve with:
Homemade bread yummmm – homemade bread!
Herb tea or lemonade
Good friends...
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