Ecology is the scientific analysis and study of interactions among organisms and their environment, such as the interactions organisms have with each other and with their abiotic environment.
For this post, we will be looking at the health of our local soil and water supply.
There are three soil components – Clay, Sand and Silt
Clay is the smallest mineral component. These tiny flat particles fit closely together to have the greatest surface area of all soil types. Clay soil contains needed nutrients and also stores water well. So well in fact, that drainage is slow in clay soil. It is the slowest to warm in the spring.
Sand makes up the largest particles in soil. They are rounded, rather than flat. This allows for larger space between the particles and water drains quickly. Because of this, the nutrients drain faster than clay soil and your plants will need more water and fertilizing.
Silt represents the middle size pieces. It is made up of rock and mineral particles that are larger than clay but smaller than sand. Individual silt particles are so small that they are difficult to see. To be classified as silt, a particle must be less than .005 centimeters (.002 inches) across.
The Mason Jar Soil Test
Use a clear, clean, empty jar with a tight lid. A pint or quart Mason jar works fabulously.
Fill the jar about half full of garden soil. You can use soil from different areas of the garden to get an overall view, or make a test for each garden bed.
Fill the jar nearly to the top with water. Leave room for shaking.
Tighten the lid and shake the jar for several minutes so that all the particles are in suspension.
Set your mason jar soil test aside for several hours, so the particles have a chance to settle. They will separate into clay, silt, and sand layers.
Read the Results of your Mason Jar Soil Test
- The bottom layer will be the heavier particles, sand and rocks
- The next layer will be the silt particles
- Above that are the clay particles
- Organic matter may be floating on the surface of the water
The color of the soil gives a clue to its character – light colors usually have less organic content than dark soils and dark soil warms faster in the spring.
- If your jar test is 20% clay, 40% Silt, 40% sand = Loam, you have the perfect combination
- 30% clay, 60% silt, 10% sand = Silty Clay Loam
- 15% clay, 20% silt, 65% sand = Sandy Loam
- 15% clay, 65% silt, 20% sand = Silty Loam
#1 – You can test your soil pH with vinegar and baking soda
Collect 1 cup of soil from different parts of your garden and put 2 spoonfuls into separate containers. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the soil. If it fizzes, you have alkaline soil, with a pH between 7 and 8.
If it doesn’t fizz after doing the vinegar test, then add distilled water to the other container until 2 teaspoons of soil is muddy. Add 1/2 cup baking soda. If it fizzes you have acidic soil, most likely with a pH between 5 and 6.
If your soil doesn’t react at all it is neutral with a pH of 7 and you are very lucky!
#2 – You can make a cabbage water pH test
Measure 2 cups of distilled water into a sauce pan. Cut up and add 1 cup of red cabbage. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow it to sit for up to 30 minutes.
Strain off the liquid – which will be purple/blue. This will have a neutral pH of 7.
To test: add 2 teaspoons of soil to a jar and a few inches of cabbage water. Stir and wait for 30 minutes. Check the color. If it turns up pink, your soil is acidic. If it is blue/green, your soil is alkaline.
Thank you Preparednessmama for posting these!
Soil and Water Test Kits:
For those wanting a more in-depth evaluation of your soil there are two options I'd like to recommend:
This is a good kit for small plots of land like school gardens. It's also a good kit if you are trying to show a small group of students results without spending too much.
We use the University of Florida's Extension Service to test our ground water and soil composition each season. They don't cost very much and you get a detailed report back in a few weeks.
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