Living in Harmony with Nature and teaching others to garden the natural (organic) way, with emphasis on practices that lead to NUTRIENT DENSE produce!

Harmony Gardens

Harmony Gardens
Bey Home designed by Stitt Energy Systems, Inc. 2002

Welcome To Our Site

Our intent is simple: to provide useful information on gardening, health and sustainability issues. We will include class and meeting announcements, gardening information, and book reviews. The articles that Calvin writes for Garden Thyme, the Master Gardener Newsletter will be included. We will try to make this site easy to use and relevant.

About Me

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Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
Harmony Gardens is the home of Calvin and Doris Bey. As the name implies our goal is to live in harmony with the Laws of Nature. We are concerned about the environment, energy efficiency, organic gardening, alternative health, and sustainability issues. We love our Stitt Energy Systems Inc. energy efficient home, which received a First Place NAHB National Award for 2003. Calvin is a retired USDA Forest Service scientist. Each year he teaches classes in Organic Gardening in February and March and again in September. Doris is a retired RN. Calvin and Doris have put their energy efficient house up for sale (by owner). See first post for description, pictures, and house design.

July 22, 2015

Procedure for Taking a Soil Test

Procedure for Taking a Soil Test

Deciding what fertilizers to add to your soil is dependent on the nutrients that are already in the soil.  Without a soil test, adding fertilizers is a guess and a gamble.  Leave the gambling to those in Reno. 

The procedure for getting a soil test my be new to you.  If so, follow the steps below.  The main idea is to sample in such a way that the samples represent your overall soil conditions.

1.  How many samples?  If you have fairly uniform soil conditions, then one sample is suficient.  If soil conditions vary, then get a sample for each defined area.

2.  For each defined area, for each sample, you will need to take several (4-8) subsamples.  This will give a more representative picture of your soil conditions.  

3.  For each subsample, first scrape off the top layer of grass/weeds/mulch/etc.  

4.  Next, with a trowel, dig a hole 6 inches deep.

 5. Then take a slice of the soil about 1/2 inch thick from the side of the hole.

6.  Place that soil in a bucket and repeat this 4-8 times, (for each subsample).

7.  Mix all these subsamples together, and take one pint to the Extension Service office.  Soil boxes are provided.

8.  By all means, ask them to do a Nitrogen (nitrate) test.   Without asking, they will not do it for gardens.

9.  In about  2 to 3 weeks, you will get results back.  Results are not for organic gardens, so you will need to make many adjustments. 

10.  If taking my class, bring the soil report with you to class.  We will discuss this in detail in class.  

11.  Call me if you have questions...  Calvin Bey  479-527-6951

Garden 2007

Garden 2007
Heirloom "Country Gentleman" Corn