Comments on: Soil Blocking Has Many Benefits. What is It and How Can You Get Started?  https://modernfarmer.com/2024/03/soil-blocking/ Farm. Food. Life. Fri, 30 Aug 2024 04:45:18 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 By: four colors https://modernfarmer.com/2024/03/soil-blocking/#comment-73276 Sat, 20 Apr 2024 06:59:58 +0000 https://modernfarmer.com/?p=152197#comment-73276 Smaller block sizes can cause the soil to dry out more quickly, requiring careful attention to avoid losing delicate seedlings.

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By: Heidi https://modernfarmer.com/2024/03/soil-blocking/#comment-72449 Tue, 26 Mar 2024 03:04:31 +0000 https://modernfarmer.com/?p=152197#comment-72449 In reply to Jillian.

It does. Thank you for responding!

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By: شركة تنظيف الخبر https://modernfarmer.com/2024/03/soil-blocking/#comment-72441 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 21:28:26 +0000 https://modernfarmer.com/?p=152197#comment-72441 How do your customers carry the seedlings they purchase home with them if not by putting them into a plastic bag?

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By: Jillian https://modernfarmer.com/2024/03/soil-blocking/#comment-72438 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 19:18:59 +0000 https://modernfarmer.com/?p=152197#comment-72438 In reply to Woozie Wikfors.

When customers purchase my plants, I box them up using cardboard boxes that I have saved up over the course of the year (either shipping boxes with the labels removed, or oftentimes my friends, family, and neighbors will donate clean, used boxes to me). This is doubly nice because the boxes (plain corrugated cardboard printed with black ink only) can be utilized afterwards as mulch in the garden.

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By: Jillian https://modernfarmer.com/2024/03/soil-blocking/#comment-72437 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 19:17:51 +0000 https://modernfarmer.com/?p=152197#comment-72437 In reply to Heidi.

Hi Heidi!
To answer your questions: Many folks recommend a bottom-style system of watering for soil blocks, meaning that you would have the blocks in a tray and would pour water into the tray. Personally, I have always watered them from the top using a a very gentle spray hose and have never had any issues. It’s a bit of a personal choice, really.
To transfer the seedlings into the larger block sizes, wait for their roots to fill out enough to help hold the block together. Then, gently place them in the divot of the larger block. I show a quick example of how to do this on my Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2XabddrvaQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
When customers purchase my plants, I box them up using cardboard boxes that I have saved up over the course of the year (either shipping boxes with the labels removed, or oftentimes my friends, family, and neighbors will donate clean, used boxes to me). This is doubly nice because the boxes (plain corrugated cardboard printed with black ink only) can be utilized afterwards as mulch in the garden.
Hope that helps answer your questions!

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By: Woozie Wikfors https://modernfarmer.com/2024/03/soil-blocking/#comment-72401 Sun, 24 Mar 2024 21:27:07 +0000 https://modernfarmer.com/?p=152197#comment-72401 So how do you package the soil blocks for your farmers’ market customers to take home?

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By: Sara McMurray https://modernfarmer.com/2024/03/soil-blocking/#comment-72391 Sun, 24 Mar 2024 15:08:53 +0000 https://modernfarmer.com/?p=152197#comment-72391 So many hours making blocks of soil. And then upsizing to larger blocks. And again. Surely the heavy-duty re-usable pop-up plastic trays or even compostable or paper pots make more sense at scale! Or many, like our forefathers, you have 10 or 12 children helping out?

I realize that many of the habits we choose in order to be environmentally conscious are inconvenient ,and some come at an added cost, but if you’re supporting yourself as a market farmer this seems like a quick path to needing a new means of support.

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By: Heidi https://modernfarmer.com/2024/03/soil-blocking/#comment-72389 Sun, 24 Mar 2024 14:37:52 +0000 https://modernfarmer.com/?p=152197#comment-72389 Hi! I love the idea of using soil blocks, but I am curious about a few things I didn’t see mentioned in the article;
How do you water the seedlings without dissolving the soil blocks?
How do you transfer the seedlings into larger soil blocks?
How do your customers carry the seedlings they purchase home with them if not by putting them into a plastic bag?
Thanks!

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