| By Mary Karish
Contributing Writer |
Rockport, a beautiful Texas coastal city, is home to rebel gardeners. The rebellion started in 2009 when a group of gardeners growing weary of root-rot nematodes, sandy soil and drought revolted against conventional garden practices. Fifteen people from diverse backgrounds formed the Coastal Bend Composters and Organic Gardeners (CBCOG).
Their mission is to learn from one another and share knowledge with anyone who asks. There are no dues, no policies and no elected officers. Their only requirement is love of the land. Meetings are held on a monthly basis and rotate among members, who also host a pot luck lunch.
Guests are always welcome and receive advice on how best to combat similar challenges. I was fortunate to be a guest at a recent monthly meeting. I also visited some of the gardens to learn how members use available resources to combat pests, build soil structure and deal with chronic drought.
Root-rot nematodes are plant parasites found in hot climates or areas with short winters. The nematodes deposit their larvae on plant roots, causing root galls and interfering with the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients. The plants either shrivel to a stick with no fruits or die. The conventional solution is to use toxic pesticides.
Sandy soil is great for beach lovers, but not for gardeners. It lacks organic matter and the ability to hold water. The only advantage of sandy soil is that you can dig your way to China.
Rockport was in Stage II Mandatory Water Conservation at the time of my visit. Watering was permitted once a week between the hours of 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. The water levels of nearby lakes had dropped to below 40 percent capacity. If conditions were to remain unchanged, the city would move to Stage III — watering every other week. Property owners on well water would be exempt. However, several of these wells have become toxic and unsuitable for drinking because they contain high levels of pesticide residue.
My host, Herman Green, who retired from his post as executive director of the pastoral counseling services at First Baptist Church in El Paso, usually moderates the meetings. He took up gardening when he and his wife, Harvette, moved to Rockport a few years ago. He met his enemy, root-rot nematodes, when he started a vegetable garden and a citrus orchard. “I believe solarization is the most effective method for killing nematodes,” said Herman. He covered the soil with a clear plastic tarp for six weeks during the summer months. The high temperatures killed the nematodes and several types of pests and fungi. He also added several yards of clay to improve the sandy soil’s water-holding capacity.
Herman prepares a liquid feed from home-made compost, liquid seaweed, molasses and organic fertilizer. He brews it with rainwater collected through his six rain barrels. The rebels of Rockport call it, “Liquid Microbial Concentrate (LMC).” He drenches his vegetables with this mixture on a weekly basis.
His citrus orchard enjoys continuous feedings through a PVC tube that is 26 inches long, with holes drilled along the side and capped at both ends. Herman adds the LMC to the root tube and buries it close to the citrus trees, leaving the top 5 inches above the ground. He replaces the nutrients in the tube every two weeks.
Steve and Marilyn Vaughan are the garden techies. Faced with chronic water shortages and a thirsty garden, they make sure every drop of rain is harvested. They connected a 5,000-gallon container to their home gutter, and the rain water feeds their garden through an underground PVC pipe.
They also built a bioswale to capture water run-off. “When it rains, our land used to flood and we could not walk around the property for days,” said Steve. “Nowadays, we direct the run-off through a depression we made and covered with stones. The depression redirects the water to our pond.”
My next visit was with John Jenkins, the composter. Aside from a fulltime job as a maintenance supervisor, he generates quality compost, a unique compost blend which includes shrimp shells, horse manure, kitchen scraps and leaves.
Shrimp shells contain chitin, a naturally occurring antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal compound. When chitin is applied to the soil or as a plant drench, it attracts bacteria that raids the shells of exoskeleton pests, like stink bugs and nematode eggs. Once the shells are broken down, it proceeds to eat the pest.
Shrimp shells can be added directly into the compost pile or dried in the sun for later use in the garden. If added to the compost pile, John advised, “Bury them deep, so animals won’t find them.”
Alternatively, crab shells dried in the sun have a similar effect. Use a mallet to break the shells into a coarse texture and use them as a soil amendment.
John’s pets are earthworms he keeps in bins. Their diet regimen is oatmeal, cornmeal and coffee grounds. He harvests their castings every six weeks instead of the usual 12 weeks because he feeds the worms tiny food morsels that break down easily.
George and Susan Hedrick are the recyclers who built their garden from reclaimed material. Their regular visits to junkyards yielded metal bars for a hoop house, a fiberglass pontoon for growing lettuces, chimeneas and an overturned bookcase for vegetables. Their solution to nematodes is raised beds they built themselves. They used discarded concrete for their walkways.
The monthly meeting and pot luck lunch I attended was at Toni and Darlene Taylor’s house. They built their compost bins from wood planks that Toni adds as the pile grows. The planks are easily removed to aerate or move the pile to the next bin. There is a 2-inch space between each plank to allow air to circulate.
At the luncheon, I met Robert Moore, the soil guy. His passion for soil health generates a lengthy discussion. His mantra is “keep it stupid simple (KISS)!”
Robert is one of the original founders of CBCOG and developed the Liquid Microbial Concentrate after research into soil microbiology and plant conditions. His website www.thesoilguy.com contains further information on LMC.
He believes the value of nutrients is based on how the plants process them, not on the amount the plant is fed. People leave discarded vegetables in their garden beds believing they will compost and provide nutrients to the plants. “I have never seen a tomato plant munching on a lettuce leaf,” said Robert. Nutrients need to be added in a form that a plant can absorb. Microbes play a major role in converting nutrients to plant food.
Robert conducts composting workshops and is available to provide advice to the public. “People need practical help to get a garden started,” he added. “The proof is in the plants. They do not lie. If you learn the language of plants, you will know what they need.”
The Coastal Bend Composters and Organic Gardeners (CBCOG) are an inspiration to those who face similar challenges. They rebelled against conventional norms and have successfully battled root-rot nematodes, sandy soil and chronic droughty conditions. Their willingness to welcome guests and share practical gardening tips makes them a special breed. Their passion is to grow and maintain healthy gardens. Their success is based on an informal structure that allows each gardener to contribute to the group.
The next time you visit Rockport, be sure to include the CBCOG in your itinerary. Contact Herman at [email protected] to learn about their next monthly meeting or get advice on gardening.
