Understand how different soil mixtures serve different functions

THEME: The Living Soil–The Living Plant: We are all Interconnected and Related
STRAND: Science of Living Soil
GRADE LEVEL: 6-8

Key Concepts

Synthesize nursery medium using proportional relationships of materials.

Lesson

Mix local soil amendments (using what you have) such as crushed coral, worm castings, etc. to compost or potting soil to make nutrient rich soil. Use the amended soil, the straight compost and/or the potting mix to start seeds and/or to grow the plant to transplant size. Collect the data. Compare and contrast the data.

Transplant seedlings and add necessary amendments.

Construct a healthy growing environment for seedlings and plants.

Prepare and amend garden beds for planting crops.

Prepare and amend areas for planting perennials such as fruit trees.

Compare and contrast practices for preparing soils for annuals vs. perennials.

Activity