Getting Started

[Tarkus]

My situation is as follows. We live in a suburb of a major city. Our neighborhood has "Code Nazis" (HOA). We have decided to get heavy into gardening, veggies, herbs n spices and to attract wildlife and do it aesthetically to keep the HOA off our back. We have had gardens in the past but this one us being done with a self sufficiency/homesteading frame of mind. We also plan on rainwater collection and are interested in having some chickens (if the code nazis approve and I'm not holding my breath).
Since we are looking at this with an organic view, does anyone know if past applications of organophosphates or nitrogenous fertilizers would require any soil remediation prior to producing safely edible groceries?
I know we're going to have to improve soil quality by adjusting pH, increasing the amount of organic matter, improve drainage then Allow natural pedogenesis to happen. Since I'm not a soils scientist or organic chemist, the chemical stuff concerns me.

Thanks

[Bret]

Holy organophosphatesnitrogenouspedogenesisremediation. That's a lot of fertilizer at one application. I should know. I spread the same stuff.

If you plant, the wildlife will come.

Be friendly and open to your code fathers and mothers and invite them to your fun vision and place. Invite them to share the fun and education with you and you may be pleasantly surprised and make new homesteading type friends.

Dirt and plants know what they like and will show you in time. There is always chemistry in the soil.

Have fun.

[ct01r]

Originally Posted by Bret

Holy organophosphatesnitrogenouspedogenesisremediation. That's a lot of fertilizer at one application. I should know. I spread the same stuff.

If you plant, the wildlife will come.

Be friendly and open to your code fathers and mothers and invite them to your fun vision and place. Invite them to share the fun and education with you and you may be pleasantly surprised and make new homesteading type friends.

Dirt and plants know what they like and will show you in time. There is always chemistry in the soil.

Have fun.

I agree with Bret. You mentioned adding organic matter: typically compost will neutralize the soil as it breaks down. It will also improve drainage. If your goal is to be natural, I'd go easy on the chemicals. I've used compost for over 25 years, and don't use any chemicals to build up the soil (but only have a small garden for my wife and I). I don't know where you live, but there are lots of places that will test your soil for pH, etc. for a nominal fee. Some countys do it, some colleges with agriculture departments do it. Try an internet search for "soil testing" and your area. I didn't see anything in your post about why you fear the "code enforcers", but unless you're going large scale and commercial, you shouldn't have any problems. I'm out in the country, and our neighbors have chickens, and everyone gets along. If a neighbor had 50 chickens on their property when I was a kid (a developed suburb with 50 x 135 ft lots), well, that's why you have codes. Curt