The temps are cooling, and many of our garden crops are done for the season. Our kale and peppers are still producing, and of course there are the fall root crops that grow well into the fall (carrots, beets, radishes, horseradish), but for the most part, we need to start shutting our garden down for the year. And that means preparing things for next year.

Here are some things you should be doing right now to make sure your garden (and your soil) are ready to roll next spring:

• Pick all ripe fruit and vegetables. After picking your last harvest pull all annual plants.
• Be sure to clean up fallen fruits, leaves and stems. Sanitation is important to not spread plant diseases in your garden.  Septoria leaf spot and early blight were very common on tomato plants this year in Wayne County so be especially vigilant in cleaning up your tomato plants.
• Cut back your perennial plants and herbs as needed. Some examples of perennials that may be in your garden include asparagus, berries, rhubarb, lavender, sage, thyme, mint, chives, radicchio, and sorrel.  If you are not sure how to care for your perennials (or not sure if it is a perennial ), Google that specific crop with the words “fall care.”
• Once all your plants are pulled or cut back, it is a great time to add some Living Worm Compost  to your soil so you will be one step ahead next spring. This also gives the compost time to acclimate itself to the soil– specifically the microbes, which will be adding nutrients to the soil as they break down the organic matter over the winter.
• If you have a conventional garden consider planting a cover crop to preserve your soil and add nutrients back to the soil over winter. If you have a raised bed garden cover the soil with straw or mulched leaves.
• Then sit back and know your spring cleanup will be that much easier!

If you have any questions about preparing your garden space for next year, get in touch with us. We will also be happy to come out and condition your soil for you with Living Worm Compost, peat and make sure it’s ready for winter. We will also help you prepare it for action next spring, complete with crop planning. Just shoot us an email or call 616-594-0693 or email Corey at Corey@GoodSweetEarth.com to set up a free consultation.
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Garden prep, soil maintenance, crop consultation…it’s what we do!

If you were to ask us to sum up in one sentence our vision for Good Sweet Earth, it would be the headline of this post– Healing the planet, one yard at a time.

We got started in the vermicompost business many years ago because we wanted to offer safer alternatives to chemical fertilizers and soil amendments. We expanded into lawn fertilization and garden services because we didn’t think there were enough organic alternatives available for people to care for their turf and home-grown fruits and veggies.

Chemicals are killing our soil. Corporate farming practices are killing our soil. Without healthy soil, our planet is doomed. So in order to save our soil, it’s our mission to encourage people to do three things: 1) Use less chemicals on their lawns and gardens, 2) Grow more of their own fruits and vegetables, instead of buying them from supermarkets, and 3) Support sustainable family farms.

To encourage the use of less harsh chemical fertilizers, we offer organic vermicompost and natural blends for your soil. And when a homeowner hires us to care for their lawn or garden, we teach them sustainable ways to treat pests and weeds– no harsh chemicals necessary!

To encourage people to grow more fruits and vegetables in their own gardens, we offer season-long crop consulting services— that’s a fancy way to say we’ve got a certified Master Gardener on staff who will walk you through your growing season, from selecting seeds and mapping out your garden to starting your seedlings and pest control to harvesting your bounty.

Finally, to support sustainable family farming, we encourage our customers to shop at local farmers markets. This is a great way to actually see the people who are growing your food, locally. No mealy, chemical-filled tomatoes grown in hot boxes in California, no soil-damaging farming practices utilized to grow corn. Just small family farms. We also donate a portion of our profits to organizations that support sustainable agriculture, like Farm Aid and the West Michigan Environmental Action Council. That means when you purchase products or services from us, you’re supporting west Michigan's natural resources and family farms.

At the end of the day, having a healthy yard is the most tangible step many of us can take toward having a healthier planet. And by buying Good Sweet Earth products or services, the money you spend on organic yard care will have the potential to heal the planet well beyond the edge of your yard. Which then means we really can heal the planet, one yard at a time.
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For more information about lawn or garden services, or our organic Worm Compost, shoot us an email at office@GoodSweetEarth.com.