Comments on: SOIL BLOCKS http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/ One family's journey towards a sustainable, more self sufficient life Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:24:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Beverlyhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/comment-page-1/#comment-119169 Beverly Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:50:02 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/#comment-119169 <a href="#comment-6884" rel="nofollow">@Anais</a>, OK, I know I'm writing 3 years after this was posted, but it prompted a google search on peat moss since I know nothing about it. This article seemed balanced and interesting: http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/0712/asknlpeat.htmlSounds like using spagnum peat is not the worst thing you could do (we are still growing our own organic food, after all) but still worth thinking about. Question: If I'm just starting out with the soil blocks, do you think I could make them by hand? I'd love to buy a blocker some day but it's just not in the budget at the moment. @Anais, OK, I know I'm writing 3 years after this was posted, but it prompted a google search on peat moss since I know nothing about it. This article seemed balanced and interesting: http://www.naturallifemagazine.....lpeat.html

Sounds like using spagnum peat is not the worst thing you could do (we are still growing our own organic food, after all) but still worth thinking about.
Question: If I'm just starting out with the soil blocks, do you think I could make them by hand? I'd love to buy a blocker some day but it's just not in the budget at the moment.

]]> By: Coisas, Projectos e Ideias » Soil Block Maker…http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/comment-page-1/#comment-111582 Coisas, Projectos e Ideias » Soil Block Maker… Wed, 25 May 2011 09:03:18 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/#comment-111582 [...] Uma das partes mais importante é o tipo de terra a usar, tem que ser uma pasta e não terra totalmente seca ou extremamente húmida (Vejam aqui). [...] [...] Uma das partes mais importante é o tipo de terra a usar, tem que ser uma pasta e não terra totalmente seca ou extremamente húmida (Vejam aqui). [...]

]]> By: Amy @ Homestead Revivalhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/comment-page-1/#comment-98500 Amy @ Homestead Revival Sun, 20 Mar 2011 04:08:44 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/#comment-98500 I just received my two soil blockers and looking forward to using them. Thanks for the recipe. I'm going to give it a try just as soon as I can gather up the ingredients. You're tips should prove to be very helpful! I just received my two soil blockers and looking forward to using them. Thanks for the recipe. I'm going to give it a try just as soon as I can gather up the ingredients. You're tips should prove to be very helpful!

]]> By: Anaishttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/comment-page-1/#comment-97807 Anais Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:31:43 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/#comment-97807 @Richard: Yes, your problem sounds like it could be the soil mix... and your assumption of "too much sand" is probably correct. Did you use this soil mixture http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/ @Richard: Yes, your problem sounds like it could be the soil mix... and your assumption of "too much sand" is probably correct. Did you use this soil mixture http://urbanhomestead.org/jour.....il-blocks/

]]> By: Richardhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/comment-page-1/#comment-97250 Richard Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:24:46 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/#comment-97250 I used a soil blocker last year. I planted very early and got a good number of seeds to sprout by March 1, using a small greenhouse and electric heating pads to protect early. My growth was terrible in the garden. Halfway through the growing season, I began to notice that the blocks had turned into a cement-like composition that was killing binding the roots quite badly. I'll try again, using the assumption that I had too much sand in the mixture. Any thoughts? I used a soil blocker last year. I planted very early and got a good number of seeds to sprout by March 1, using a small greenhouse and electric heating pads to protect early.
My growth was terrible in the garden. Halfway through the growing season, I began to notice that the blocks had turned into a cement-like composition that was killing binding the roots quite badly.
I'll try again, using the assumption that I had too much sand in the mixture.
Any thoughts?

]]> By: Soil Blocking on the Cheap | Freedom Gardenshttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/comment-page-1/#comment-91753 Soil Blocking on the Cheap | Freedom Gardens Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:57:11 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/#comment-91753 [...] my 15 year old daughter.   I used the Eliot Coleman recipe (from The New Organic Grower) that Anais provided to make the blocking mix with a couple modifications.  *For convenience, the complete block mix [...] [...] my 15 year old daughter.   I used the Eliot Coleman recipe (from The New Organic Grower) that Anais provided to make the blocking mix with a couple modifications.  *For convenience, the complete block mix [...]

]]> By: Anaishttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/comment-page-1/#comment-84631 Anais Sun, 02 Jan 2011 23:12:34 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/#comment-84631 @Germaine Jenkins: Happy soil blocking! @Germaine Jenkins: Happy soil blocking!

]]> By: Germaine Jenkinshttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/comment-page-1/#comment-84476 Germaine Jenkins Sun, 02 Jan 2011 01:05:49 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/#comment-84476 Got the materials and hope to make the soil blocks tomorrow for direct planting into a new bed, in grow bags and in the winter sowing of fruits and veggies for the spring. Thanks as always for the inspiration! Got the materials and hope to make the soil blocks tomorrow for direct planting into a new bed, in grow bags and in the winter sowing of fruits and veggies for the spring. Thanks as always for the inspiration!

]]> By: Successful Garden Tip: Soil Blocks | Freedom Gardenshttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/comment-page-1/#comment-72144 Successful Garden Tip: Soil Blocks | Freedom Gardens Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:16:21 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/#comment-72144 [...] An ideal soil mixture must be fibrous enough to hold together through many waterings - Basic Soil Mix Recipe ( you can definitely modify) [...] [...] An ideal soil mixture must be fibrous enough to hold together through many waterings - Basic Soil Mix Recipe ( you can definitely modify) [...]

]]> By: Sarahhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/comment-page-1/#comment-63372 Sarah Mon, 30 Aug 2010 05:23:34 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/02/27/soil-blocks/#comment-63372 <a href="#comment-44753" rel="nofollow">@namgya wangdi</a>,I believe this is more like what you might be interested in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Adobe If you look up "superadobe" or "superblock" or the architect Nader Khalili, you should find relevant information. University-based architecture programs might also be doing research into efficient use of native materials in building. Good luck! @namgya wangdi,

I believe this is more like what you might be interested in:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Adobe
If you look up "superadobe" or "superblock" or the architect Nader Khalili, you should find relevant information. University-based architecture programs might also be doing research into efficient use of native materials in building. Good luck!

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