Guys just wanna have fun.

http://www.fungi.com/blog/items/the-petroleum-problem.html

Mycelium 

Talking with Joyce Hinterding in class about the wonders of mycelium, the working part of fungi. Could be a good addition to conditioning the soil in our raised garden beds. 

Paul Stamets name cropped up in conversation. This is one application of fungi, remediating the environment after an oil spill. Other articles make clear the need to treat the whole of the soil as an organism that needs feeding and 'tending'. 

Paul Stamets on TED

http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world

Meanwhile, Tending 3

Internal strapping to keep it all neat and tidy.

The four raised garden containers have been bedded into the former lawn ready to be filled with the remaining soil. Straps have been added to hold the sides of the containers firm. Makes me wonder how these things get sold - flat pack easy to load in the Cherokee Suburban. Have one Olla Pot and small Warrigal Green seedling in place with some open terracotta placeholders for when more Olla Pots are ready. 


Just want to let the original Tending crew that things are happening again. Thanks to those students in the courtyard who help shovel some soil. We appreciate the effort helping to get the Tending project back on track.  

Where's Wiley

For those worried about the soil condition, when digging the trench for the garden bed containers I found many healthy looking worms in the dead roots of the grass, they vigorously escaped the full sunlight. 

I would recommend a soil test at some stage. Heavy metal contamination is always an issue. Worms, amazing creatures, they evolve to be able to absorb heavy metals and bioremediate soils, here and here.