Soil

[Mekong Sustainable Farming Forum]

Hi Michelle,

If there was any decent soil there before the raising operation, then that may be your best source, so perhaps you could dig out some  from underneath the filling.

As far as I can see the availability of really good soil here in town is scarce.

Making soil from compost is the best way I've found in Vientiane.

I have recently heard of one new farmer who is collecting all the kitchen scraps from a large restaurant in town, a truck full at a time once a week, and composts it. He is trying different methods and having a competition with his wife to see who can make the most soil.

That is one of the huge benefits of farming in the warmer climates. The biodegrading process is so much faster, and decent compost can be made in a few weeks instead of half a year or so. I just make it a rule to throw away nothing that is biodegradable, as one day it will be soil. As all neighbours seem bent on filling the rubbish truck with garden and hedge clippings, you could ask them to throw them over your fence and get more biomass that way.Soil is becoming more valuable each day.

For a kitchen garden, I would suggest working in very small plots, giving the soil time enough to become available as you need it.

Also, with small plots, each plant gets that little extra attention that sometimes makes the difference between live and die.

I've managed to grow squash (pumpkin) and black beans quite successfully in poor soil in raised beds, but not much else, although I do have one beautiful tomato plant currently ripening.

Several people are using worm farms, but I'm  finding that the composting method produces more good soil faster.

There may be sources of good soil,and hopefully anyone who has found any will let us know. However it seems that there is very little really good top soil in Laos, probably because of the slash and burn techniques that have been traditionally used, and the clay nature of the natural soil.

Let's hope someone else has had success finding or making potting soil.
I have recentky been making enquiries at the market as to where the vegetables come from, and most come from Thailand, because Laos is unable to grow veggies of sufficiently good quality, probably due to the soil.

David

On 3/26/2015 4:57 PM, Michele wrote:

Hi.

Recently in our area the road has been enlarged, and the made its level higher. So, we made the level of our land higher as well.

Now we have a brown ground with no grass. The soil comes from the area around here.

 I would like keep a spot to grow vegetables for the kitchens.

Any suggestion to get a " good soil " ?

Thank you very much!

Michele 

Nola Guesthouse, Ban Nà, Kasi, Laos