Articles by Don Nicholas

Soil Troubleshooting Guide A to Z

Soil Troubleshooting Guide A to Z

No matter how much love and compost you pour into your garden, soil sometimes misbehaves. Plants look yellow, fruit drops early, or herbs refuse to sprout. The good news? Most  
Soil Life and the Food Web

Soil Life and the Food Web

When you dig into soil, you’re not just handling minerals and organic matter—you’re holding a bustling city of life. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, insects, and earthworms are all part of  
Soil pH and Mineral Balance

Soil pH and Mineral Balance

If soil is the body of the garden, then pH is its heartbeat. Too acidic, and certain nutrients are locked away. Too alkaline, and others wash through unused. Striking the  
Water, Drainage, and Soil Health

Water, Drainage, and Soil Health

Soil is more than dirt—it’s a living sponge. Too much water and it suffocates, too little and it starves. The art of gardening lies in finding that balance. Managing water  
Crop Rotation and Soil Balance

Crop Rotation and Soil Balance

If mulch is the soil’s blanket and cover crops are its armor, then crop rotation is its compass. What you plant—and when—can either drain the soil or restore it. Rotation  
Mulching Matters

Mulching Matters

Gardeners have many allies, but mulch might be the quietest hero of them all. A good mulch is like a blanket for your soil—it shields it from the weather, conserves  
Cover Crops and Green Manure

Cover Crops and Green Manure

If compost is the gardener’s black gold, then cover crops are the living green shield of the soil. They keep the earth covered, feed it while they grow, and give  
Composting A to Z

Composting A to Z

  If healthy soil is the foundation of food gardening, compost is the mortar that holds it together. Compost feeds the microbes, balances nutrients, improves structure, and turns yesterday’s kitchen scraps