News

Dirt Poor? Add Compost!

SDPB Radio | By Victoria Wicks

Published June 18, 2017 at 11:26 AM CDT

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Beth-Anne Ferley stands in front of a stock tank garden, left, and a tipi for climbing plants, right. In the background is one of the heavy trucks that rumble by all day long.

Victoria Wicks

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Shelby Anderson, left, and Beth-Anne Ferley test gardening techniques at the landfill. In background are plants started indoors under grow lights.

Victoria Wicks

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Stock tanks are used as container gardens. The fourth one from the right isn't producing, and Ferley and Anderson are experimenting with soil amendments to fix the problem.

Victoria Wicks

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The landfill offers an endless supply of stuff that can be used as a container.

Victoria Wicks

Not all soils are created equal. Just inside Rapid City's boundaries, for example, the northeast soils are much more challenging to gardeners than those on the west side of town. And what's a gardener to do? Amend, amend, amend. Some gardeners build their own compost piles or buy soil amendments. Others head to the landfill, where not only lawn and yard waste is composted, but also household garbage.

INFORMATION ON GARDEN WALK:

The Pennington County Master Gardeners are holding a garden walk on Sunday, June 25. Harley Paulson says there are six gardens to be toured, all in the Sheridan Lake Road area. It starts at 12:30 p.m. and costs $5. For more details, go to one of these websites:

https://www.facebook.com/Pennington-County-Master-Gardeners-111455215604733/

http://www.blackhillsgarden.com/index.php?p=1_246_Upcoming-Events