How to Convert to Organic Soil
- 1). Test the soil. Take a sample of the soil to your county extension office or landscape center for an evaluation of the nutrient content. The test will provide you with a base line and knowledge of the soil's condition. Retest yearly and document soil improvements if you plan to seek organic certification.
- 2). Stop using all non-organic herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.
- 3). Start a compost pile. Fresh green organic material such as vegetable waste, grass clippings, hay, alfalfa meal, animal manure from herbivores (sheep, cows and horses) human urine (diluted 20 to 1 with water) and green leaves provide nitrogen. Dead leaves, untreated wood chips or sawdust, cardboard, shredded newspapers and cardboard contain high amounts of carbon. Avoid pet manure, meat and fatty kitchen waste in the compost pile.
- 4). Bury fish heads and fish entrails directly, deep in the soil. They are rich in nutrients that are beneficial to the soil, however they are odorous, so cover them well rather than putting them on the compost pile.
- 5). Move the garden plot, if feasible, to a new location that has not been treated with chemical herbicides, fertilizers or pesticides. Choose a sunny, well drained spot that is protected from the wind.
- 6). Consider building or purchasing raised garden beds. Fill with fresh organic soil, organic compost, sand and peat moss in equal amounts. Mix well.
- 7). Rejuvenate your old garden plot. Cover the entire garden with an 18- to 24-inch layer of organic materials like those in the compost pile.
- 8). Sprinkle the materials with bone meal, following application instructions on the package. Purchase 20 pounds of clay-based cat litter per 10 square feet of garden area. Scatter the litter over the mulch layer. Water well until the mixture is thoroughly saturated.
- 9). Cover the entire area with a layer of heavy, black plastic sheeting available from hardware stores or home building centers. Anchor the plastic sheeting with heavy boards or rocks, then just leave it alone. The garden should remain covered for at least one growing season. Remove the plastic and cultivate the compost into the soil.
