Recent catastrophic flooding in Central Texas should make us reflect upon whether our soil can absorb rainwater. Wild swings between drought and deluge are worsening here due to climate change. Healthy soil can help slow and store water, so it is worth investing some effort in this undervalued resource.
Traditional landscaping in which a few isolated trees, foundation plantings and turf are perpetually stripped of “overgrown” organic matter depletes and impoverishes soil. Even if you do nothing else to help your soil, allow your lawn clippings and fallen leaves to decompose naturally. If you don’t want to manage a compost bin, consider trench composting instead (especially easy “dig and drop” pit composting). https://www.compostmagazine.com/trench-composting-guide/ Those who want cubic yards of mulch for their gardens don’t even necessarily have to pay for it: the City has free mulch available for pickup at the Recycle and Re-Use Drop-Off Center https://www.austintexas.gov/dropoff, and Chip Drop will even deliver Free Wood Chips For Gardeners | ChipDrop. Another option is to use local resources that might have gone to a landfill to enrich your soil instead. “Grounds for Your Garden” are available at Starbucks, and local area farmers sometimes offer pecan shells or spent microgreen trays for gardening. https://www.bootstrapfarmer.com/blogs/microgreens/reusing-spent-microgreen-trays.
The North Loop Neighborhood Association is partnering with the Central Texas Mycological Society to make it even easier for you to enrich your soil. We now host a mushroom block pickup site at our very own Bruning Green. https://www.centraltexasmycology.org/blog/2021/7/24/how-to-grow-mushrooms. These spent growing blocks from local culinary mushroom farms can be used in your garden to build fungal-rich and water-saving soil. Pick up a few blocks at the corner of 52nd and Evans under the crape myrtle trees the next time you walk your dog or enjoy weekly free community yoga on Sundays!
North Loop Neighborhood Association 