The complete guide to Ruth Stout gardening and why it is the ideal way to plant.
Popularly known as the “Mulch Queen”, Ruth Stout was a cultivation expert. As early as 1920, she devised that the traditional tools of gardening like digging, weeding, watering, ploughing and hoeing could be replaced simply by adding a layer of hay on the ground. Her studies stirred all horticulturists who could use the rest time to bring more fruitful work.
In simple terms, her method would include applying a thick layer of fodder mulch on the soil. The process consists of a maximum of the work done by nature instead of having an aching back due to tilling soil all day.
Here are some details to get started with the easy method of farming!
Equipment- you would expect a long list, but there is none! But if you are a pioneer of tidiness, you could use some gloves, spade and fork to ease up the work for you.
Inputs-
Among the material needs, Stout got the hay that is required to mulch with. You can get plenty as, the more, the merrier! Anything that takes time to decompose but does eventually can be used for the same. You could also work with pine needles, straws, grass clippings and seaweed.
Fertilizers-
In addition to the hay, a cotton meal or soy meal is ideal for feeding your crop. It speeds up the plant growth over 5 pounds in 100 square feet. However, if there was no need for splurging growth, you can skip it for a few months and let the plant find its manure naturally.
Starting the Garden-
According to Stout, the more time you give your soil to be ready, the better. Soil becomes more fertile with the passing years. If you are going to start with gardening, summer and fall are ideal. Springtime soil is cold, and the mulch keeps the earth warm. Covering the ground with hay in autumn would keep seedlings ready by springtime. The thickness of the grass can be anything above 8 inches from the ground. The effect of decomposition and rain brings it to the lever you can be comfortable with.
The hay can be added from an existing lawn with the existing grass and plants to add fertilizers. Between rows of the plantation, you can add layers of fallen leaves.
Soil Type-
The soil type has little importance. Even if there is a high content of acidic minerals in the soil, you don’t have to do anything in particular. Rocky soil is considered perfect for this kind. Mulching is effective for sloped surfaces and protects erosion and nutrition nun off.
