How to activate soil life on new land

[RichardVeld]

Hello Charles,

A friend of mine received a piece of land (300 m2), and he would like to grow fruit and vegetables on it. Nothing was done on this land for over 5 years and it was filled with all kinds of weed. The first thing he did, a couple of weeks ago, was get in with a excavator, scraped all the weeds off the soil and burried it in a large pit. After that they turned over the soil. See picture, thats what it looks like at the moment.

They did notice they were no worms present, the smell was kind of moldy, definitely not fresh. So it seems that soil life is not present, or at least having a really hard time.

He already accepted the fact that he will not grow anything this seasion, but he would like to have a fertile soil for next season. So what can he do to accomplish that?

Can he already make beds, create paths of woodchips and place compost on the beds (10cm layer) or should he wait for autumn? What more can he do to activate and stimulate soil life? I personally thought of adding the compost now, to avoid more weeds germinating, but I dont know if thats the proper way.

Thanks for you advice in advance.

[charles]

Richard, let’s forget for now that he has removed a lot of soil life with the weeds and soil, then damaged a lot more by turning the soil over. Traditional methods have a lot to answer for.
Going forwards, I would indeed make beds with 10cm compost and plant straightaway. Waiting is doing no good for the soil. That soil needs living roots. There must still be good life there if it was growing plenty of weeds.
Small wood pieces for paths is good for veg, see paths question.
Mouldy smells can be fine, such as some nice fungus.

[Diamond]

Hello Charles

I am demolishing a 30 year old mostly earth-floor barn in order to build a house (and garden) on the 400sq m site. Currently, we have removed the asbestos cement board roof, and are waiting for demolition next month. We’re hoping to be landscaping next Spring, and I wondered if you could advise how best to encourage life, as it seems very barren.

I was planning to straighten up whatever the builders leave and add lots of well-rotted horse manure, as we have a good local source, and perhaps bulk buy compost to put on top. Or should I purchase top soil first?

Thanks for any advice

Marilyn

[charles]

Hi Marilyn
The soil is dry and therefore little can live there for now, but once the roof is off and you have some organic matter on top, then give it a good water, I reckon that life will return quickly enough for you to start growing as soon as you have done that.
Buying topsoil is not worth the money, often it’s been stacked for long enough that most life has gone out of it, so you are gaining nothing. Your own compost which will have had some good soil organisms eg on weed roots, will be more beneficial.

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