this is my second year for using soil blocks. i finally mixed all the ingredients for the soil block maker
recipe as recommended by eliot coleman and used by the fine people at
path to freedom (where i purchased
the block maker from). on a rare sunny day, i set about making some blocks…
first i mixed up the recipe
then i added water…i believe the recipe called for 1 part water to 3 parts soil mix
picking it up, it’s pretty moist
squeezing it turns it into a gooey lump of mud
this is my first row of blocks
push the block maker into the soil, give it a quarter turn and lift out. i also used my hands to manually pack it which worked equally well.
the soil is supposed to be wet enough that water runs out of it when the blocks are made. you can see it starting to do that around the edges
so easy, even a kid could do it!
one container filled with blocks and ready to be sown
all done! you can see the amount of water left over on the sides. i finished this up by placing a layer of plastic wrap over the top to retain moisture, scavenged from an old worn out bag. .. in the future, i’ll probably use saved wrap from mushroom and broccoli packages i sometimes purchase at aldi.
the great thing about the blocks is they are already separated so transplanting seedlings is a breeze. simply break them apart, dig a hole in the ground and plant.
I made my first batch of soil blocks yesterday (also got mine from Peddler’s Wagon). I think I need to make my mix a little wetter though. I planted a bunch of milkweed seeds in them and have them outside, hopefully they’ll be planted in the empty lots on either side of us for the bees & butterflies this summer.
Can’t wait to see how your garden grows!
I’d never seen these before! What a great idea!! Thanks for sharing! I’ll be putting the block maker on my wishlist for gardening supplies for next year! I already planted my seeds in odds and ends saved from previous store bought purchases of plants but some of them are getting cracks and they won’t last but maybe another season or two.
Great post and darling little helper! I have thought seriously using soil blocks, I think your post just convinced me to try…thanks, Kim
I’ve been using block makers this year too – they are great! No more little plastic pots that you have to disinfect from year to year. You can make 50 blocks in no time at all. Well worth the investment.