There’s nothing better than living off your land. Being able to plant something, then watching it grow, and eating it on your plate is the full circle of life. Planting fruit, vegetables and herbs is not only easy, but it’s a great way to get access to healthy food right in your own backyard. Even if you live in a tight space, there are many options to grow on your patio, balcony, or right on your windowsill.
However, prior to planting your harvest, you need to check your soil. The pH of soil is the measurement of how acidic or alkaline the soil is. Plantea.com explains that “what’s really being measured is the concentration of hydrogen (H) ions — the more hydrogen ions there are, the more acid the thing being measured is… a clever scientist developed the pH scale. It runs from 0 to 14, where neutral is right in the middle at 7.0. Less than 7.0 is acidic (sour) and more is alkaline (sweet).”
So, a couple of months before planting, usually in the fall, make sure to check the pH levels of your soil. You can either take a sample of soil and send it in to a local lab, purchase a Home Soil Tester, or do a quick soil test yourself. HomesteadingSurvivalism.com came up with an easy test to check soil levels.
* Put samples of your soil into two separate containers.
* Add baking soda to one container. If you see bubbles, your soil is too acidic.
* Add vinegar to the other container. If you see bubbles, your soil is too alkaline.
* If neither container producer bubbles, your soil is somewhat pH balanced.
Remember that different plants prefer different pH levels; some like the soil to be more acidic, while others prefer alkaline soil. Just read up about which soil you need. And if your soil is not the right pH level, don’t fret, there are many easy and organic ways to amend soil to the right levels.
Simple Natural Solutions is your source of tips, tricks, recipes and advice for a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes, making a few small changes at home will make dramatic differences for your and your family’s health. Visit www.simplenaturalsolutions.com for more information.