Today we talk about what makes good compost with Robert Pavlis. Robert is a well-known speaker and educator with over 40 years of growing experience. He is the author of several books, including a whole series demystifying important growing topics, including Soil Science for Gardeners, Microbe Science for Gardeners, Garden Myths and Compost Science for Gardeners. He has a background in chemistry and biochemistry which allows him to research topics and explain the underlying science. He uses that understanding to present complex growing topics in an easy-to-understand style that is both informative and fun to read.

Robert’s books do a great job explaining the background and mechanics for a lot of the aspects of plant care that are important for market farmers. He will help you understand the why behind how to take care of plants.  As the owner and head gardener of Aspen Grove Gardens, a six-acre botanical garden in Southern Ontario, Canada, he grows over 3,000 varieties of plants.

In Shop Talk with Neversink Farm @neversinkfarm we chat about new tools, old tools, how they can benefit your farm and tips to use them successfully with Conor Crickmore of Neversink Tools, which manufactures tools for farmers. 

In this episode of Shop Talk, we discuss the history of tilthing that goes back hundreds of years. Tilthing refers to a very shallow cultivation action that can help smooth out a compost layer and work amendments into the top inch or so of soil. After losing popularity to deeper cultivation methods, like rototilling and spading, tilthing is gaining ground again as a way to even out fertilizer and compost applications on top of a bed and get it ready for gridding, transplanting or seeding. We also discuss how tilthing fits into the order of bed preparation.

Thanks to our collaborator on this podcast Neversink Farm. They make this podcast free to everyone with their generous support. For tools designed and made by farmers, check out www.NeversinkTools.com

Magazine Articles Mentioned In This Podcast:

"Making great compost at scale: The tried and true windrow system" by Ellen Polishuk

Connect With Guest:

Published Books: Garden Myths, Plant Science for Gardeners, Soil Science for Gardeners, and Building Natural Ponds

Blogs: Garden Myths and Garden Fundamentals

YouTube Channel: Garden Fundamentals

Facebook Groups: Garden Fundamentals and Building Natural Ponds

Owner of Aspen Grove Gardens

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