Last weekend, I was digging some fence post holes, fortunate to have my eldest daughter hold posts for me while I packed soil around them to make sure they were perfectly plumb and sturdy.
I was admiring the rich soil we’re so fortunate to have on our farm, and commenting that there never seems to be enough to fill in around the post, even though the post takes up half the hole. That sparked a conversation with my daughter on why we have such beautiful, productive soil, what makes good soil, and how we can improve it.
Many soils in Jefferson County are formed from alluvium (materials deposited by rivers and streams) and outwash (glacial outwash). Specific soil series include Clasoil, Anoka, and Billings, each with unique characteristics. The ideal soil texture is a loam soil, which contains about 40% sand, 40% silt and 20% clay, a mix that provides the perfect combination of water holding capacity, fertility, aeration and drainage. It is a well-balanced soil that is not too compacted or too loose.
