Some of you may watch the weather on channel 12 in Medford and will remember the segments the weather people do with Oregon State's Master Gardener. I called the number (541-776-7371) and since it was after their telephone hours of 10am-2pm, was given this email address: jcmga.sorec@oregonstate.edu. I did not get a name when they responded but the point is you can get really, really professional gardening advice and it's all free.
So while their instructors validated my sawdust, grass clippings, and horse manure amendments their soil and compost mentor advised against rototilling. And another person from a worm farm referred me to the book shown above which advocates layering materials rather than mixing them.
I just got the book (from Village Books in Mt. Shasta for $17.95) so I do not have content to report yet but from the introduction the author seems to have a great number of ideas apart from the layering concept . . . bordering a planted area with certain plants to ward off pests and other natural approaches to enhance the garden.
So having just bought a Mantis rototiller I'm of course a little reluctant to go this layering route fulltime. And in fact a little of each might be the answer, like mixing all the goods up in fall and layering over with grass clippings all winter to seep.
Anyway, more later when I finish the book.
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