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Farm Proven Conservation Practice Also Works in Garden

April 2, 2007, Iowa NRCS Radio News Release

ANNOUNCER: IT’S SPRING AND TIME FOR GARDENS TO GET PLANTED. MASTER GARDENER AND SOIL CONSERVATIONIST SHEILA O’RILEY WANTS GARDENERS NOT TO TILL THE GROUND AND ENJOY THE SAME SOIL SAVING BENEFITS AS DO NO-TILL FARMERS.

microphoneO’Riley (MP3, :33)

(Transcript) Garden tilling opens up the soil to erosion and weed growth. Just as farmers have had success with no-till crops, gardeners should try no-till gardening. Instead of tilling the ground, no-till gardeners plant garden seeds into layers of mulch. No-till gardens grow nearly weed free and require little maintenance. And the results are delicious. For a soil saving no-till garden recipe, go to www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov and click on “backyard.”

ANNOUNCER: O’RILEY IS FROM THE ADAMS COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT IN CORNING. SHE IS A RECOGNIZED EXPERT ON NO-TILL GARDENING.

Sheila O'Riley, Soil Conservationist in Adams County, demonstrates no-till gardening to a science class.
This is a picture of Sheila O’Riley in the persona of the Ugly Gardener as she demonstrates no-till gardening to a science class. If left to grow, this wood floor demonstration garden will produce a crop.


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