Refresh Raised Bed Soil Using Sunshine Community Garden’s Custom Recipe

In this video Charlotte from the SCG Education Team gives a breakdown of Sunshine Community Garden’s custom recipe for refreshing raised bed soil that has been depleted or sitting without proper protection from the Texas heat. This volunteer project by members of the Sunshine Community Gardens was at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Garden which is also located at Sunshine. This soil refresh recipe is perfect for school or community garden beds, container gardens, or any raised beds that have been sitting unused for a period of time. Many of these tips apply to all soil amending in central Texas, even for in ground beds.

RECIPE
The following is Sunshines Community Garden’s custom soil refresher recipe. It does not require precision and the amounts are approximate.

Major components
6 – 10 parts spent (previous/old) old bedding mix
4 - 5 parts compost
1 part rice hulls (premoistened)
1 part shredded coconut coir (premoistened overnight if possible)
½ part kelp meal (i.e., use ½ to all of a 5lb box from Down op Earth)
½ part perlite (optional, i.e., use ½ to all of an 8-quart bag)
½ part diatomaceous earth (optional)

Add by the cup or by the handful
Use product packaging or the internet for reference:
Green sand – very slow release micro mineral
Azomite – very slow release micro mineral (or get the powder for faster release)
Sulfur pellets – slow release acidifier
Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) – rapid release – makes calcium available

Optional Amendments
Best added on top of refreshed soil for more immediate availability:
Worm castings
Seaweed spray
Fish emulsion spray
A balanced, gentle “N-P-K” meal or granules: Down to Earth or Jobe’s

For a full breakdown of steps visit: https://www.austinorganicgardeners.or...