[Soil] “The first two inches count.”

While attending the 17th Annual Organic Growers School Spring Conference, (held for the first time at the UNCA campus in Asheville, NC) I asked  random attendees  ”What did you learn?”  The responses came from men and women who work for Habitat for Humanity, the John C. Campbell Folk School and included presenters and others.

• ” You don’t need a male chicken to make an egg. Despite all I have learned about sex. I am still in shock.” Ian N.
• On grape growing: “Wait a bit before reacting to problem  bugs and insects. Often their predators figure out pretty quickly where they are.” Peter F.
• [Soil] ”The first two inches count. I don’t have to kill all the bugs I have been killing.” Fran B.
• “If I put water in my yard, birds will come. A birdbath is a better solution than a bird feeder, they will find insects and poke around in my yard helping to aerate the soil.” Jen D.
• “Cover it at night…your squash, that is.” Joni P.
• “Truffles can be grown in North Carolina and  be very profitable. But not for five years and you need dogs to find them.” Lynn M.
• “The higher in altitude, the thicker the grape skin grows- to  protect themselves from the ultra-violet rays.” Tucker L.
• “I learned that I can relax about roses;  more room, less feeding and get into new roses…I can do this.” Nann C.
• “No matter what your soil type, there is an herb for every spot.” John T.
• “The importance of aging compost and manure before using it as a mulch.” Matthew M.
• As for me,  I am still stunned by this vermi-composting factoid: “There are no native worms in America. They all got squeezed out during the Ice Age.”

-Alisa Hixson