Evaluate the actions you have carried out to date, to improve soil quality. In your report, include what has worked, what has not, ease of implementation. Make note of any improvements that you have identified, summarise what you have done prior to each evaluation and record any recommendations. Make reference to organic standards and compliance. Give evidence for any claims you make.

• Initial soil testing was completed on 31st August. A visual soil assessment was carried out to establish an understanding of the health of the soil in the market garden site before any soil management practices had been made. The soil of the market garden site ranked moderate with a VSA score of 18. There was good drainage and well formed aggregates with a fine-medium friable structure. Soil colour was a medium-light brown, slightly darker in places, overall revealing lower amounts of organic matter seen in rich dark soils. Water retention was okay, small amounts of moisture could be felt. There was one section of the garden in the top right hand quadrant that was different structure. Much more compacted, wet, dense and had a off scent of sulphur, indicating stagnation and bacteria and unwanted microbe populations. There was also minimal worm life, less than 4 worms recorded in the VSA 20cm of top soil. There was also minimal visible strands of fungi to be seen.

With those results, there is massive room for improvement in soil health for this site. Organic matter definitely needed to increase, as well as worm life, microorganisms, mycorrhizal fungi networks, working symbiotically to improve over all structure and health of the soil and plant life.

SOIL + NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ACTIONS:

3/10/23 First steps carried out was to remove perennial weeds and aerate the soil with the least amount disturbance. This was done by broad forking the entire market garden site from left to right, top to bottom. Broad forking was necessary to loosen deep rooted perennial weeds: as well as aerating and loosening any compacted patches of soil. Whilst this is still in effect disturbing the soil,  it is not being inverted and completely mixed, disrupting soil layers as seen in other methods such as tilling and digging. Plus, it is a one off action to remove aggrevating weeds that threaten to over take the garden if not removed such as wandering dock and oxalis. A small broad fork was gently placed into the soil and lifted to create air pockets and to remove weeds. Starting in one corner,  I worked my way along from north to south broad forking. With another student helping, we met in the middle. We were very attentive not to stand back on where we had just forked the ground so we were not compacting the soil thereafter.

• The first amendment of organic matter was adding medium texture woodchip which was sourced from trees onsite at WITT. Layers of wood chip were added to establish pathways around the growing beds. These would be to walk on, to not disturb the beds and create compaction within the growing zones. Wood chip will provide cover and protection for the soil, as well as food and host substrate for mycorrhizal fungi networks to establish. Woodchip mulch will be excellent for moisture and water retention and will eventually break down over the season adding a layer of organic matter to the top soil. Worms also thrive in this moist organic matter rich environment and will encourage their activity and breeding cycles within the soil also.

• 4/10/23 The next day the rest of the woodchip was applied to fill up all paths. Once completed, management of the growing beds started with adding in nutrient amendments to boost the nutrient levels in the soil. All naturally based, no synthetics were used in compliance with organic standards used in Organic farm NZ.  Two of the 4 products applied were certified organic. 1. Tui Chicken & Sheep pellets (non organic) 2. Tui Blood & Bone (non organic) 3. Cert Organic Yates Potash 4.  Cert Organic Yates Garden Lime. Ideally all of these amendments would have been certified organic, however I was using what I had access too with the WITT garden supplies, moving forward I would recommend organic sheep pellets along with an organic blood and bone to adhere to organic standards. Refer to the swaps I would use for compliance here:  
  
  The combination of these amendments will provide a wide array of essential nutrients (NPK) as well as micronutrients and mineral content to boost initial growth of plants whilst they establish. The hope is to not rely on these amendments as the quality and health of the soil improves. Instead, between the fungi, microorganisms, worms, plant roots and their exudates and organic matter from fallen plants and added compost/mulches will feed each other to create a closed loop reciprocal nutrient system where everything supports eachother, known as nutrient cycling. This will take some time to build, so plant performance will be monitored to adapt nutrient application while the soil health is still building.

• A fresh load of 2 cubic metres of compost was delivered and added to the garden beds after all amendments were evenly distributed. This compost was sourced from return 2 earth "Return 2 Earth's All Natural Composted Soil Conditioner is produced from blends of recycled greenwaste, woodchip, stable, goat and chicken manures and an added humate". Not a certified organic compost, however this is what we had access to logistically and financially. The compost appearance is a beautiful dark, rich colour and fine, fluffy texture. It appears to be of good quality, although we will see how plants respond over the seasons. (Please refer to soil page) A full heavy metal analysis was carried out by the company,  which passed all safe ranges of metal levels. 

• Overall 5-8cm thick layer of compost was added to the initial bare soil beds. This creates a blanket and well established layer of organic matter that will protect the soil below and provide a plethora of nutrients for plants to access. 

• 26/10/23 Three weeks later, the beginnings mycorrhizal fungal networks were visible weaving their hyphae through the layers of wood chip and compost (see here for photographic evidence) this provided positive feedback that these amendments and protective layers of woodchip & compost were creating the right environment for these beneficial fungi to thrive. It is a really good sign that the soil health is starting to improve. I noted, that particularly in the woodchip were these fungal hyphae present. I look forward to seeing signs of worm activity as the season progresses.

To summarise, a one off broad forking to aerate and help remove perennial weeds was carried out, from now on minimal disturbance of the soil will be made. All bare soil was covered with organic matter, woodchip for pathways, compost for the beds. Providing protection from harsh sun, wind and rain that threatens to degrade soil health further over time. Nutrients were amended with non-synthetic fertilisers, providing an initial boost to nutrient availabilty for plant roots to access and for soil microbes, fungi and organisms within the soil food web to access over time.

The next management techniques will be to get plant roots into the soil and further protect the growing beds with plant life that can feed soil life via exchanging exudates (sugars) and recieving minerals and nutrients. Plant matter will also be added back into the soil during sucessions of plantings. My goal is to keep the soil covered as often as possible to protect the life that is building within it's ecosystems. 

What I would do differently:

• Set up a data collection document to track soil health with regular VSA's to keep track of any improvement overtime and to refer back at anytime. 

• Get a soil sample to analyse under the microscope to get the foundational understanding of the existing soil food web and ecosystem within the soil to track increasement in populations of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes to compare with further soil improvements.

• I would have planted much sooner that I was able to, by direct sowing straight after the fresh compost was laid and the beds were formed to get the plant roots in and developing sooner and to develop a crop rotation plan to ensure soil is not left bare for long periods.

• I would water more often in dry spells to ensure soil moisture levels were kept at an even level. Consistent soil moisture levels need to be maintained for plant health and for the health of the soil food web in particular worms, as worms will migrate to subsoil and lower, rather than brining the organic matter and plant excretions through the topsoil which we need to improve soil structure and health.

• Moving the compost and woodchip was very laborious. Possibly getting the compost and woodchip placed closer to the market garden site would cut down on labour time and lugging the heavy compost bags after they were hand filled and wheel barrowing them over to the site. I was lucky enough to have help from my tutor and a couple other students from the level three course to help me. It was definitely achievable with 2-3 extra helpers, but if this was on a commercial/fast turn over market garden this labour would cost a lot. However, this was the initial set up of the market garde space, so a lot of it was a one off full on effort to establish the foundations that would need to be maintained. More woodchip and compost will have to be added in the future, possibly once a year, so creating a plan to have this process more efficient and easy will be crucial.

Evaluate the actions you have carried out to date, to improve soil quality.  In your report, include what has worked, what has not, ease of implementation. Make note of any improvements that you have identified, summarise what you have done prior to each evaluation and record any recommendations. Make reference to organic standards and compliance. Give evidence for any claims you make.

Actions carried out to improve soil quality:

• Plant roots covering soil. The main soil and nutrient management technique carried out over the growing season was to ensure there were plant roots consistently within the soil without long periods of bare soil. Planting began on 19/10/23 with seeds sown direct and seedlings planted out a couple weeks later. These plantings were completed much later than I had planned originally. Busy schedule and cool snaps over the season meant that seedlings had grown a little slower than expected and planted out much later than intended. This mean that the soil was bare for just over two weeks with another three weeks after this to plant out majority of other seedlings.  In terms of ease of implementatation, it was definitely a lot easier to direct sow seeds, directly into the beds and covering them with micromesh to protect and lock in moisture. Seedlings took a lot of time and effort, but proved their worth upon planting as they had a head start. These particularly worked really well for large fruiting crops such as cucumber, zuchini, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant. It meant I could get these ready a lot earlier before the season started.
  
  Fully covering the soil took time. Where plants were direct sown and planted in closer rows, they covered the soil earlier than seedlings. However once the season picked up, larger fruiting crops and salad crops filled in there space in good time. This mean at peak season, majority of the soil was covered, with a plethora of living plant roots in the ground providing protection of the soil from the elements and consistent exudate excretion into the soil via these roots. The aim was to keep the soil covered with living plant roots as much as possible and this was achieved peak season.
  
  The benefits of the constant high level of roots and plant coverage of the soil revealed itself in plant health. Due to the consistent coverage of soil and roots in the soil, moisture was locked into the soil and the soil food web was provided for and therefore able to carry out it's reciprocal nature with the plants by providing nutrients via fungi and in turn improving plant health. This was evident in the lack of disease and pest pressure throughout the season. Minimal imputs were needed (only 3 seaweed soakings were under taken) and no form of intensive weed or pest control was needed. IPM and IWM was carried out with only minor incidences of powdery mildew and aphids, both on curcurbits - these has little effect on the productivity of the plants over all. The health of these plants was a direct reflection of the health of the soil and the work that had gone in from the beginning to weed well, release compaction and to include organic amendments to provide the initial boost for plant growth. These combined with the woodchip and fresh compost created a solid foundation with clear results of healthy, robust and productive plant growth throughout the season.
  
  I would definitely be more on time and proactive about getting plants into the ground as soon as possible after initial garden bed set up as this prolonged the time before necessary plant roots needed to be in the ground to protect the soil from the elements and to feed the soil foodweb/microbiome. This was an unfortunate time management pitfall that will need to be remedied in the future for productivity and to ensure optimal health of the soil without leaving it bare for extended periods.
  
  

• The action of adding new organic matter via fresh compost and mulch via woodchip, did help to mitigate the effects of long exposure to the elements and lack of plant roots. This mean atleast the exsisting soil was covered and had supplied organic matter for worms to break down and fungi to settle in and there was available food and nutrient cycling able to be carried out for a period without active plant roots. However, plant roots will be prioritised via a sound crop plan and rotation in the future to ensure a cycle of plant exudates are being pumped into the soil and to feed microrganisms and increase overall soil health and nutrient availability. This first season was a great way to trial which species worked well in a polycrop bed and which would be the least amount of maintenance whilst still providing a productive and cost-effective market garden crop.

• Despite a longer duration that had been originally planned, by the 14th December, majority of seeds and seedlings had been planted and sown so there were active plant roots within the soil pumping out root exudates to improve nutrient availability to organisms that cycle these excretements throughout the soil. Soil was being covered by living plant folige, providing shade and moisture protection within the soil.

• To back this up, I carried out 4 different VSA's with varying results, which overall reflected the improvement in soil health. While there was still significant progress to be made in soil structure, worm activity and nutrient availability via organic matter, there was still a long way to go with improvement in soil structure and overall soil health.
  
  

What I'd do differently:

• WATER, WATER, WATER! We were defintiely lucky with the higher amount of rainfull during the summer season of 2023/24. This provided majority of the irrigation needs of the plants and kept soil moist for ample plant growth. I was also able to go down 1x - 2x a week depending on rain levels to hand water with a hose to increase water application when the plants needed it. I did find initially the soil was retaining moisture really well, especially at a good depth, I tested with my hands to feel the level of moisture. (Next time I will tract with moister and temperature meter). I could feel the soil was still relatively moist even after a week without water. However, as the season went on I noticed even after watering for a long period, water penetration was decreasing and would only access the surface of soil. This meant the other layers of top soil were still very dry and soil was not retaining moisture. Worms would retreat much lower into the subsoils as the moisture levels were not supportive of their wet/moist environment needs. Lack of worms in this layer near plant roots meant that nutrient cycling would be highly interupted and organic matter was not being cycled along with nutrients throughout the layers of soil. This also became evident in plants that were showing signs of wilting and therefore significant water loss via transpiration due to lack of soil moisture.
  
  To mitigate moisture loss I would make sure to set up a consistent watering timetable or include a self timing irrigation system. This would involve a lot of cost up front, however will pay off a lot in future, especially during the dryer and hotter summer months to ensure maintenance of soil health and plant health. Either that, or I would need to make time to ensure watering was carried out 2-3 times a week and stay very consistent with this application to ensure optimal soil moisture levels.

• I would be more consistent with following a crop plan and succession sowing straight after a harvest of crops. This would continue to ensure that the soil remained covered and meant mitigation of bare soil at regular intervals. Due to time and resource constraints, as well as a consistent crop plan with adjacent timings, I lacked in replacing crops after harvest. This was in part due to inexperience also, and learning what crops worked well, when they needed to be harvested and spacing. I will be using what I learnt in the following seasons to ensure regular and consistent successions to keep soil health utmost priority.

• Include more seaweed soil drenchings, I would carry these out on more of a regular basis every 2 - 3 weeks to improve microbial activity within the soil to support the soil foodweb and in turn plant health.

Evaluate the actions you have carried out to date, to improve soil quality. In your report, include what has worked, what has not, ease of implementation. Make note of any improvements that you have identified, summarise what you have done prior to each evaluation and record any recommendations. Make reference to organic standards and compliance. Give evidence for any claims you make.

At the time of this report, we are in autumn and the garden has reached it's slow phase and transition form summer. Whilst most crops remain, their vitality has diminished as the days get shorter and the nights get colder. Majority of soil surface area remained covered in either living or decaying plant matter which contriubted to protecting soil health.

What's worked, improvements, notes and evaluations:

• Maintaining a high level of living plant roots in the soil. This has been achieved for probably 60-70% of the garden with living plant roots within a biodiverse polycrop to ensure there was constant exchange of root exudates and the plant - microbe relationship kept strong. This is the easiest implement tation in terms of a little bit of neglect and a lack of time available to spend in the garden and maintain a good succession planting plan. I was able to maintain a high level of plants in the ground, however after harvest of crops such as beets and carrots, a lot of soil was left bare and therefore inflicting a negative effect on soil health due to weather erosion and lack of living plant roots. Next steps to ensure protection of soil health is to create a strong succession sowing and planting plan to avoid bare soil at all costs.

•  COMPOST. This has single handledly transformed the soil of the market garden site. Return 2 Earth compost, whilst not certified organic has provided a wealth of organic matter and nutrient availability to both plants and fungal and microbial health. The most positive signs were reflected in the health of plants and their prolificness. As well as the most noticable visual signs of fungal activity and networking within the soils and compost

• There was astounding levels of fungi visible both interlaced into the soil and coating plant roots. Particularly interwined in the wood chip, as well as embedded throughout the top soil of the beds, large white patched and tiny hyphae networks stretching throughout large patches of soil. This finding was incredibly reassuring and exciting to see the progress of fungal, microbial and worm activity beginning to flourish in just a short period of time.

• I carried out visual soil assessments during this time in five different patches of the garden,
  1 in the right hand end of the tomato bed which included mostly compost and a
  2 at the end of bed 1 in the woodchipped area, 3 as well as another patch between bed 1 & 2
  4 Under roots of lettuces and rocket in bed 3
  5 In between tomato plants (rupunzel and yellow pear) in the left hand side of the tomato bed*
  Most of these VSA's conveyed similar results, high fungal network activity and visbility, find texture crumb especially due to the compost and areas of sticky aggregates and clay-like textures in areas, especially that in the end of bed 1 & 2 where the soil is very dense and compacted. There was good colouring and minimal mottling throughout the soil assesmenets, rich dark colours ranging from copper brown - dark slate brown indicating good organic matter presence in the top soils.
  However, there wasn't as many worms as I had anticipated and hoped for. Averaging at 10 worms, which still is a good condition score and a considerable improvement when compared to the initial soil assessment taken back in August before any changes were made

• Most notibly, a count of 44 worms was taken in *VSA 5 between tomatoes. This is an interesting correlation as these tomatoes were the one's impacted by an unusual elongating and curling leaf disorder.

• The VSA's relayed clear evidence that the soil health of the market garden site had defiinately improved with notable levels of fungal networks and activity, worm activity, strong root structure and plant health

• Worm tunnels were visable throughout compacted clayey soil near bed 1 & 2, this was poorly draining, thicker and sticky soil that had minimal crumb texture, it was evident it needed more organic matter, nutrient cycling and fungal, microbial and worm activity to improve its quality. It was amazing to see the worms beggining this process by weaving tunnels and bringing organic matter throughout the thick clods and providing aeration and nutrients.

Additives?

• Nothing else has been added to the soil apart from sporadic seaweed soil drenches during summer to the soil for nutrients. These seaweed drenchs were to encourage foliar plant health and improve microbial populations. 

• This means the soil health has been thriving on the initial layers of compost, living plant roots, fungal, worm and microbial activity and the small array of organic ammendments we applied at the beginning back in october of blood & bone, chicken & sheep pallets, lime and potash. No other nutrient amendments of fertilsers have been added. 

• I plan to work in organic vermicasts, more liquid fish/seaweed drenches in the coming months

Results from popsicle test:  photos will be found in final report

• I had left a large popsicle stick from a label of a seedling grown in the ground to track microbial and fungal activity, as another way to test and assess the soil health. This was planted along side it's apple cucumber back on November 11th. These are the results below:

• Evidence of strong microbial and fungal activity. This popsicle stick was put in the ground on november 11 2023. These photos below were taken April 11 2024,  5 months later. The bottom of the stick was already degrading and has been saturated with microbial and fungal exudates and enzymes that have broken down the wood, decomposing fragments via the poop loop.

• This is awesome visual and biofeedback that tells me there is positive soil food web activity happening in the soil. It is yet another layer of evidence and indicator of good soil health forming.
  
  Fungal networks have also been visible via fungal network evidence in soil and on plant roots, as well as microbial evident in nitrogen nodules forming on legume species.
  
  Overall, from the main growing season over summer into autumn now, there is clear evidence that soil health has improved from our initial VSA soil testing at the beginning analysis of the site

http://www.soilhealth.com/soil-health/organisms/fungi-bact/#2 https://soil.evs.buffalo.edu/index.php/Testate_amoebae#:~:text=Due%20to%20their%20variability%20from,as%20a%20whole%20%5B6%5D. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24529779/
https://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/species-showcase-testate-amoebae-0#:~:text=They%20are%20key%20predators%20and,composition%20of%20the%20microbial%20community.
https://www.cropnutrition.com/resource-library/the-role-of-soil-bacteria-in-crop-nutrition/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28923606/#:~:text=They%20play%20major%20roles%20in,are%20conductive%20to%20crop%20production.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/mycorrhizal-fungi
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/13/2/95

Currently organic compliance in terms of supporting and restoring soil has been adhered to with the use of diverse polycropping systems and the regulations met and needing to be worked on below:

Soil and Fertility 3.1
"Sustain and enhance the fertility and life-supporting ability of the soil" Emphasis on soil organic matter, soil flora and fauna and achieving cycles and flows of nutrients.

Soil testing
Regular soil testing has been carried out via VSA soil assessments taken at the beginning of soil rejuvenation, getting the foundation of soil health before any amendments were made, see results here: Plans for regular VSA will be put in place to coincide which each report to keep an eye visually on soil health. However soil chemical testing and analysis is required within 3 years of applying for organic certification so this will need to be achieved to gain certification via a ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. Eurofins lab in NZ provides comprehensive soil testing and scientific analysis required for organic certification standards: hill-labs.co.nz/testing-services/soil-testing/organic-farming/
I plan to send off samples for heavy metal testing to Soil Safe Aotearoa Soilsafe Aotearoa | Kia mōhio ki o oneone. (auckland.ac.nz) 

Organic matter
Organic matter has been assessed and will be monitored by VSA and will need to be chemically assessed via soil laboratory tests in orders to meet biogro (ofnz) standards. Soil samples would need to be sent off for testing, which I can include in my next steps to achieve for certification.

Soil Health
I had planned to begin the season back in august/september with a cover crop, however by the time compost arrived and beds were prepped, it was too close to the growing season to complete this. Over winter and early spring season, cover crops will be planned to be applied. In the interim, peas and beans will be incorporated  into the crop  growing plan to provide nitrogen fixing species into the system.
Fresh soil composts will be applied at the beginning of the system set up in formation of each bed. A thick layer of 6-7cm will be applied to each bed, creating a blanket of foundational organic matter in the system. (return 2 earth compost was used, which is not certified organic, so other certified sources will need to be used in the future for compliance and certification).

Composts and Vermicasts
Return 2 Earth compost used - not BioGro approved, will need to locate and research approved compost sources for future used or look into setting up an onsite approved composting system, as this must be heated, aerated , mixed and matured sufficiently. Vermicasts have not yet been incorporated into the system, but will definitely be part of the plan in the future.

Leaching
Leaching losses will be mitigated by minimal applied composts and organic fertiliser inputs to ensure proper nutrient cycling and minimal losses to leaching. Emphasis will be placed on little to no input and to created a closed looped self - feeding system via  optimal soil health via root exudates and their role in feeding and nurturing the soil microbiome and food web. Soil will be kept covered as much as possible with live plant roots to help with nutrient cycling and absorption to prevent leaching also.

Nitrogen Rates
As above, nitrogen rates will be kept very minimal with little to no use of organic fertilisers added and will not exceed 170kg limit per hectare.  A one off input regime at the start of the season before compost was laid was carried out including:
- Blood and Bone (Non certified, can easily be swapped for biogro cert)
- Potash (Biogro cert)
- Lime (Biogro cert)
- Chicken and Sheep pellets (Non certified, can easily be swapped for biogro cert)
Compost was then laid on top. Official nitrogen rates will be confirmed with a chemical soil analysis.

Raw Manures
Were not applied and not planning to be applied and will be composted if planned to use in future.

Sewage by-products
Will never be used.

Industrial by-products
Textile waste have not been used, neither of food waste so far. With no intention outside of compost and carboard to be used in the system as of this moment.

Mulches
Mixed mulch was used from onsite trees that were felled and chipped. Various species across the WITT grounds, native and introduced.  Medium sized chip, bagged and transported from carpark to site. Unfortunately this source is not BioGro certified, however, this might be able to be signed off with evidence that no prohibited substances were applied directly to them and residue tests may be required. I will look into BioGro cert sources in the future and if I am unable to find them will look into getting this source form WITT approved. This woodchip mulch was used to line paths and provide a substrate for mycorrhizal fungi growth.

Seeds, seedling and vegetative propagative materials
A mix of certified organic seeds were used. I used seeds from companies I had on hand to experiment and get the garden established and to see what worked well. Koanga seeds (heritage) Setha's Seeds (Heritage)  Eco seeds (cert organic)  Kings seeds (cert organic range)  were all compliant companies I will continue to source seed from for compliance in the future and replace any non cert organic companies I have used -  and if I am unable to find certain varieties organic, I will discuss their possible used with OFNZ.  I grew majority of my crops via direct seeding and seedling propagation.  However I did source and use non certified organic seedlings also, which I will completely avoid moving forward, focus on my own successions with  cert organic seeds and seedlings to meet requirements moving forward. I used Tui BioGro cert seed raising mix to ensure compliance.

Genetic Engineering
Will never be used.

Green Manure crops and crop residues
Green manure crops have not yet been used, but will be planned for and of great use during slower seasons in winter and to increase soil fertility in the first few years of production. Polycropping will be maintained to ensure coverage of soils. VSA's and soil testing bi-monthly and annually to assess nutrient and organic matter levels achieved in soils. Crop residues from falled crop matter and roots left in soil will be incorporated back into the soil and gentle raking and occasional broadforking to achieve a smooth and fluffy planting surface will be used. Emphasis on keeping roots and organic matter and crop residues in the soil will be maintained in each bed to increase and maximise organic matter levels.

Fertility and crop rotation plan
Crop rotation will be at the forefront of the crop plan to ensure different species are rotated throughout the system and different root exudates, root length, plant structure and nutrients are cycled throughout the system as a whole. Fertility and crop plan must be documented for at least the next two seasons. So far, I have planned out the crop plan for summer and will soon plan out the autumn and winter plan. Restorative phases via green manure crops will be incorporated over slower growing seasons to maintain overall fertility and enhanced. Polycropping will ensure a diverse range of crops are rotated and cycled throughout the system to rejuvenate and increase soil fertility over time also.

Soil Structure
Soil structure will be monitored via regular VSA's to assess compaction, worm populations, organic matter levels and  more. Damage to soil structure and compaction has been actively mitigated. An initial broadforking of the entire market garden space was undertaken to increase aeration and to remove annual and perennial weeds. Careful consideration and placement was carried out to ensure we were not stepping on the areas we had broad forked. Paths were laid out with woodchip, these were to be the only areas in the garden that were allowed to be stood on. NO standing on beds at any time will be enforced to mitigate soil bed compaction and impact on soil structure. No heavy machinery has been used only broadforking and gentle raking on top to smooth out beds. Adding compost and the intention of green manure cropping will offset any damage done to soil structure and polycropping to improve soil structure will be prioritised at all times.

Biological Activators
Have not yet used, but will definitely look into their use for the future.

Permitted Fertilisers
Refer Appendix B.
Blood and Bone (Non certified, can easily be swapped for biogro cert)
- Potash (Biogro cert)
- Lime (Biogro cert)
- Chicken and Sheep pellets (Non certified, can easily be swapped for biogro cert)
The only fertilisers used to far, along with Tui liquid seaweed (BioGro cert)

Restricted Fertilisers
Refer Appendix B.

Fertiliser Supply
Tui:
-Chicken and Sheep pellets (Non certified, can easily be swapped for biogro cert)
- liquid seaweed (BioGro cert)
- Blood and Bone (Non certified, can easily be swapped for biogro cert)
Yates:
- Potash (Biogro cert)
- Lime (Biogro cert)

Liquid fertilisers including vermicast liquids and compost teas

-Tui organic seaweed fertiliser has been used for topical and soil soaking so far. Used for overall plant health, microbial support and health.

- No used of vermicast or compost teas at this stage, will definitely be looked into in the future for use.

Sewage

Will never be used.

Miscellaneous Fertilisiers

Blood and Bone (Non certified, can easily be swapped for biogro cert)

- Potash (Biogro cert)

- Lime (Biogro cert)

- Chicken and Sheep pellets (Non certified, can easily be swapped for biogro cert)

The only fertilisers used to far, along with Tui liquid seaweed (BioGro cert)

Thermal Sterilisation

Have not needed to use.

Burning vegetation

Have had no need to be used and no plan to use in future as of now.

Salinization

Soil testing will help to identify any salinization effects and to monitor water supply coming from the tap used for hose irrigation. We are a long way away from the ocean and high up, so there is minimal risk of salinization from seawater, storms and run off. It will be water supply monitoring and fertilisation inputs that need to be monitored the most.