working bee at the warrali st garden

Louise, Belinda and Kerry, with Paddie from Community Greening.
Photo: Wilcannia News

Paddie and Cliodhna held a community working bee at the Warrali St garden. Adults and children planted out seedlings, weeded, built up the compost piles and celebrated the healthy soil that’s been created from the old compost piles.

Sharing knowledge and positive vibes.
Photo: Wilcannia News

The community gardeners added pictures and information to the back wall to help everyone learn about how to make healthy soil.

Indigenous microorganism trap

What – a way to trap microorganisms (tiny, weeny critters) that are native to a soil area.

Why – it will be used to improve the health of soil and support the growth of native plants. Cheaper and more effective than buying fertilisers or other commercial soil improvers.

How – you trap microorganisms from a healthy area of soil and place them in soil you want to improve. In these new areas, the critters get to work, sharing sugars and nutrients, improving the soil for a new garden or tree planting.

Paddie and Cliodhna from Community Greening came to visit again. Paddie has been visiting a few times a year for at least 6 years. During this visit, we learnt how to create an Indigenous Microorganism soil trap (IMO).

Step 1 – a small wooden box.
Cooked rice.
A mesh to stop mice and rats getting at the rice.
A damp cloth to keep in the moisture (all life needs moisture).

Step 2 – dig a hole big enough for the box.
Cover with dirt around the sides and leaves on top.
Step 3 – leave it for at least 4 days. If the weather is cool, leave longer.

Step 4 – dig the box out and see the goodness.
White fluffy stuff = microorganisms who improve soil.

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