I Learned The CRAZIEST Garden Tip From an AMISH Farmer (Soil Test by sight)

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[@DDGLJ]

We have an Amish colony near our town, they are terrific neighbors, very direct and happy to chat. Just the other day, 70 of them helped move a (non-Amish) neighbor’s house away from the riverbank where it is threatened by floods. It looked like the house had grown legs like a millipede- they were all inside it! Just picked it up with manpower and moved it.

[@weirdsweetcoolplants]

There is a channel called Amish America that talks about the amish and he has a video that covers that. It just came out in the last day or two if anyone is interested in watching it.❤😊

[@lorimiller9895]

You must live near me in Central Montana 😊. That was an awesome story about what they did!

[@weirdsweetcoolplants]

@@lorimiller9895 nope, I'm in utah. I still watch the channel though because I like learning about the amish.

[@DDGLJ]

@@lorimiller9895 it was the new Amish Colony down in tiny Roberts between Red Lodge and Laurel. What a great addition to the community they’ve been!

[@DDGLJ]

@@weirdsweetcoolplants I saw that and it is kind of an odd channel but I’m surprised they have one at all!

[@denisemusicnut]

If you want to get a rough idea of whether your soil is alkaline, acid, or neutral, gather some soil and divide it into two cups, and mix it with distilled water. Add vinegar to one cup, and baking soda to the other. If the soil with the vinegar fizzes, your soil is alkaline. If the soil with baking soda fizzes, it is acid. If neither of them fizz, it is neutral. I have no idea what it means if they both fizz, but I would probably choose a different site for my garden!👽

[@karenf9137]

Good info. Thanks

[@mariatorres9789]

Tnx

[@JK-ox2kp]

Thank you

[@sandrahbradley1511]

Thanks.💜

[@DDGLJ]

@@sandrahbradley1511 😄

[@CottageontheCorner]

My grandpa used to work for the Brooklyn botanic gardens in the 70s and this is one of the many things he taught me before he passed. I was only 12 when he was gone but it’s so interesting because now that I’m starting to become an empty Nester, I am really getting into gardening and remembering everything.🥰

[@farmersdaughter1000]

Any tips you could pass on?

[@CottageontheCorner]

@@farmersdaughter1000 oh my goodness, probably so many random things I could tell you. If there’s anything specific that you grow, let me know and I’ll see if he said anything. I did start a KZbin channel which I am really gonna be focusing on gardening with so maybe follow along because I do mention him in my videos which are mostly just on TikTok at the moment. Here’s one thing he did that I haven’t tried, after the spring bulbs flowered, like tulips, hyacinth, and daffodils, he dug them up and stored them in a paper bag in our garage and then replant them in the fall. I wish I could ask him whybut we ended up with the most gorgeous flowers every spring. Oh, and he used crushed dried leaves in the bottom of the holes when he planted the bulbs, but not oak leaves… Never leaves.

[@oliviastar3812]

@@CottageontheCorner Anything for veg like greens?

[@CottageontheCorner]

@@oliviastar3812 yes actually… He used to cut up banana peels and scatter them around the base of some leafy greens but also before he planted them, he did try to crumpled up some dried leaves even dead leaves from other plants and put them in the hole first. And when your green veggies start to die… Let them die in place so that they break down and go back into that soil.

[@sseptember6301]

​@@CottageontheCorner I think you meant Hyacinths⁉️🤔

[@debbiemusgrove676]

We can learn a lot from the Amish. They are full of knowledge.

[@marcyking461]

I've always said, when society falls apart, the Amish and the Hillbillies will be the only survivors because they know how to live off of the land. Knowledge we all should have, but few do.

[@user-wm4el5hv3c]

tasty too

[@robinlugosi3961]

What's tasty?

[@kristinesugala4492]

Amish wisdom comes from above Jesus Christ

[@annboyle54]

The FDA currently is harassing the Amish and Mennonite who live with the earth using many of the same tactics they used on the Indians and other cultures around the world. Make their way of living scary (fear even if unwarranted) and presenting themselves as the saviors. When we bend to them, we surrender our power to them. If they are powerful, we gave it to them. The Amish and Mennonite need our help to preserve their way of life.

[@Tugedhel]

Love this. An Amish person would say, though, that they center their lives on being friends of Jesus and their love for the natural systems God put in place stems from a joyful acceptance of his directive to be caretakers and stewards of the Earth. Take care of the soil biome and it takes care of you. Those who understand this are and infinite source of wisdom. Thanks for continuing to be a lifelong learner and sharing things like this. I love such a simple perspective VS fiddling with a $24 kit.

[@xyzxyzxyzxyzxyzxyz]

I think this knowledge really only applies to where the Amish lives. Local biogeography can affect typical ph levels differently. E.g. if I would spot reddish soil in southern Africa, it would not imply alkalinity but presence of iron oxides. In northern Europe, brown soil, or rather hummus rich soil, would imply acidity. The important lesson is not that acidic or alkaline soil looks like this or that, but that you should spend some time and effort learning to read *Y-O-U-R* local environment, just like you learn to read your local weather patterns, water table, morning fog, frost dates, microclimate, drainage and shades. Every location will be different, and you should try to understand your own growing conditions.

[@sherriianiro747]

I know - I have clay soil and it's very acidic!

[@corinne7126]

excellent points

[@tracenixon5487]

I have heavy clay soil and know it is very alkaline

[@pamelapiszczek8226]

Speaking of red soils, just look at Prince Edward Island, Canada, very famous for it's red soil. They grow the best potatoes for commercial use. Whenever I have purchased PEI potatoes in a grocery store and used them, rinsing under water has turned the water red.

[@amenoum7623]

True. Clay soils where I live tend to be acidic. Better indicator of pH are the native plants growing in the area. The guy should've prepared better and mention the caveats.

[@Duncan1900Homestead]

I love learning new ways "which are really the old ways" from our Amish neighbors.

[@tinagale7840]

My grandfather was born in 1900 and he could put a pinch of soil in his mouth and taste it and tell my cousin what the should grow in that file.

[@catalinaserbanescu1687]

That sound more like the Amish would do, but I really doubt they would have such scientific notions and use scientific terms such as PH. That's the thing about the Amish, they reject modernity and live like in the old days.

[@marciamartins1992]

Be careful you could wind up with worms putting dirt in your mouth.

[@cathyb3790]

“ Rocked your world “ that old school gardening has worked for thousands of years without technology intervention ,please . the Amish farmer has yrs of experience ,,, a Great place of knowledge , to keep it simple

[@karenblevins1562]

Put your dirt in a jar of water, shake it up then let it settle for a few hours. The ratio of silt, clay, and loam will be clearly visible and you will know what you need to amend it. Silt on bottom, clay middle, loam on top.

[@user-jw6sr7nc5g]

Soil is sand, clay, silt. Proper ratio is loam

[@hermanhale9258]

Sand on the bottom, settles immediately. Silt settles in a short while. My clay floats for days and weeks. It's all clay unless I add something.

[@hermanhale9258]

Why don't they sell bags of silt or loam?

[@ppss.6302]

BS. You never tried it to see for yourself.

[@karenblevins1562]

A lot of correction here. What ever your soil is made up of the bands will be clearly visible. My soil in Pa. It was mostly clay a little silt and loamy stuff organics like leaves, grass, cow manure. Here in Florida its all sand with no clay and a little bit of organics unless I amend it big time.

[@juliehorney995]

Would love to see an episode where you test this out. Match it with your homemade ph test method and an extension or formal test lab. As we MGs usually say, "test, don't guess!"

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

You can also look at how long materials like eggshells take to decompose. In some places, if your soil pH is too alkaline, they can last for years. In my soil, they disappear in a few months, so I know it's more acidic.

[@hermanhale9258]

Ha, the egg shell test. I am going to try it. I have a reddish clay, a brownish powdery rock, black compost layer, potting soil, leaf mulch, etc. Makes sense the acid soil would dissolve the egg shells.

[@dannyboy218]

Summary Dark color soil = likely neutral ph Clay like soil = likely more alkaline/basic Sand like soil = likely more acidic

[@alyssacampbell1958]

Can you do a video of what plants need what kind of soil ph. At least the basics please. Thank you 😊

[@peachykeen7634]

This would be a good video to see. In general, almost all vegetables in that we like to eat require alkaline soil. Berries, like acidic soil, which is why blueberries grow naturally in colonial pine forests.

[@magnumxlpi]

​@peachykeen7634 that's not true at all. Most prefer slightly acidic

[@peachykeen7634]

@@magnumxlpi well we have to heavily lime all our veggies, even at a pH of 6.2

[@sherrifaye2492]

My Dad was a wonderful gardener and he always said pick a handful up and squeeze it if it is squeezed and stays together it is good to plant in. Certain plants need the sandy soil too though.

[@preschoolhomestead]

Now I know why there's a big bag of lime that was left in the barn when we bought this place. The soil is very sandy! This will be our first growing season here.

[@nattierags]

Hmmm. The sandy soil in Florida was always alkaline and we had to add sulfur to make it more acidic for azaleas. Here in Tennessee our chirt..red clay and rock is acid.

[@dianesmith8183]

The Amish know....thanks Luke!😊

[@OMEGAWOMAN42]

When everyone farmed, everyone knew this. Also, we can identify ph by what plants are growing there. All good information.

[@user-fj1fg7po2l]

That's what my grandfather used to say. He could tell the PH by what weeds were growing in his lots.

[@LiliansGardens]

The comment I was looking for. Thanks. That's what I use. I can recognise hundreds of weeds /herbs as a result.

[@crazy8skml]

This is why I wish I had asked my questions of my Great Uncle with his garden. He had a huge garden with so many great tasting fruits and veggies. 😢

[@mochagunny6229]

Our lost older generation truly were a walking book of useful knowledge. Kids of today really need to ask and gather information from what one day will be lost and gone forever.

[@joshuab738]

1-1.5 ph range is big as it is a log scale. That being said, I have never had a problem with ph as I find the added compost almost always keeps it about neutral (most stuff in the garden is not that sensitive as long as you are near to neutral) ---- even though I add a lot of peat with it. The only time I ever worry about ph is with Hydrangea (for their color) and some berries (as they love the acid) --- in this case, I use one of those cheap electric meters (which are not super accurate, but at least puts me in the right ballpark).

[@dash-4150]

Very cool, thank you for sharing

[@shirley7137]

What do you use on your berries to make the soil more acidic? TY

[@dash-4150]

@@shirley7137 sand

[@joshuab738]

@@shirley7137 I don't do that many berries that require very acidic soil (e.g., blueberries) anymore. I mostly grow day-neutral strawberries and prime ark freedom blackberries which both do fine around neutral ph. I am finding a trend that a lot of the more modern berries that are being bred as not as sensitive to ph (no empirical data on this, this is just based on my few recent plants and talking with a local strawberry farmer). We have red clay here and so my berry plots were all prepared mixing in a lot of peat moss and compost (heavy on the peat moss to lower ph). I luckily live in the south now (one of the reasons I don't grow blueberries anymore) and so I will place pine straw (which I have easy access to) on their beds in the winter. The pine straw will slightly lowers the ph given time and enough moisture. I have observed about a .5-1 decrease over 3 years (based on my little meter) --- so very slow, but I didn't need it fast. When I did do things like Blueberries while I was living in the northeast, I would add a little sulfur or extra peat moss. Sulfur was the only way I could get the big drop I wanted fast.

[@hermanhale9258]

I bought a big pot of hydrangeas with white snowball blossoms. I wanted blue, but they only had white. At home I dumped a bucket of water on it that had leaves soaking in it for a week or so (I just forgot about it.) Next day all the petals were blue and purple. I was so happy. It's all sickly now though, I am going to repot it and see if that helps.

[@Kiyarose3999]

Although some gardeners talk about the importance of ph for fruit growing etc, I have never considered it worth the effort and especially didn’t want to have to buy testing strips etc. But now with this great tip I will be more aware of my soil ph in an easy way, I grow all my food in pots & tubs as I don’t have a garden. I make all my own compost which is always rich and dark which is great cos now I know it is nuetral ph, and everything I grow in it does really well from Grapes & Tomatoes to Veg and Herbs. Thanks for this great tip much appreciated! 🌻✌🏽🌎

[@butterflyvision3849]

OMG, I just learned a whole lesson. 😊 thanks a Million

[@cheerio9119]

LOVE and appreciate this tip SO much!! Thank you for sharing 😊

[@brokenmeats5928]

I love ALL MIgardener videos!

[@unionse7en]

light is sometimes very alkaline (colorado) add a bit of vinegar and watch it react. lime,gypsum,kaolin bases

[@katherinecornette5315]

Well, here in NC we have a red Clay that due to the pines tends be acidic. Azaleas, rhododendrons, etc grow everywhere

[@joanneg7646]

Thank you for this valuable info! Happy gardening from 🇨🇦

[@user-fq5zu6ik7j]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and daily tips!

[@edietaylor4491]

This is the first time that I saw your posts. Thank you! I also live near an Amish community and really appreciate it. Thank you for your suggestions. I look forward to future posts to help our gardens thrive. We live off of our gardens, so the more we know the more we will succeed.

[@bdwon]

Seems common sense. But you said so yourself, the background pH of a region's soils has a strong effect. Maybe a good approach would be to get pH info from a county extension agent, and then use that as a starting point for the visual test.

[@paulfarruggia9770]

Thank you so much for your help!!!

[@kathryncarty1629]

Thanks for the soil tip here! ❤

[@gdibble]

⚖ *Love this lesson!* @MIGardener Luke, thanks for sharing these tips about average pH from soil color and make-up. _Great content and please keep up the awesome work._ 🙌

[@admirerofcreativity5295]

❤ so neat!! Thank you for sharing!!

[@rachelstark2391]

Appreciated a much calmer episode...

[@jannwilkins3774]

This is our second year with our new home and garden. All info is appreciated. Our soil is heavier can you recommend what a newby needs to add to the garden soil because it does gets quit muddy. Thank you any info is appreciated.

[@LifeSpringFarmsllc]

Makes total sense, thanks for taking the time to explain it to us....

[@matthewprimeau8552]

now I understand...thank you for sharing!!!!

[@kathystarnes6744]

Fascinating! Great information Luke!💚

[@9sec93lx]

Thanks for the tips. You can also tell soil PH by what grows in your native soil. Where we are we have lots of Slash Pines and Live Oaks growing everywhere, AKA acid soil.

[@kateboehler4140]

Awesome information. Thank you!

[@elizabethcoates3024]

Very cool, thanks Luke.

[@eileennavarrete9459]

Thank You for Sharing

[@carolmcintyre8485]

. Thanks Luke. Gives me a greater appreciation for areas of my yard/garden that are sandy.

[@kirk4462]

Great info Luke👍makes a lot of sense

[@vicwickgardens9174]

Thanks Luke! Great information as always 😊

[@hilaryporter7841]

Thank you for your pearls of wisdom.

[@kasko8550]

Very well explained! Thanks!

[@susanwylie4460]

Thank you for sharing that.

[@davidmikolajczak9361]

Great info. Thanks Luke.

[@reneecasey5719]

thankyou for some good common sense gardning tips- I have thought over the last few years that many are deterred from gardening because they they think they can't keep up with the now a day Gardners- that begun a few years back- gardening was made simple by God-

[@christinedrysdale6125]

This is the best explanation I've seen online. Thank you for sharing!

[@courtneyrodulfo7761]

This is amazing and so common sense!

[@carenal]

That's amazing! Very helpful tip.

[@wwsuwannee7993]

Good info. I will remember this. Thank you.

[@jackzampella5758]

It's always good to learn something new and unique. I did. Thanks Luke. 👍

[@paleomagicksr.9880]

The clay in my region of northern PA is acidic and requires high-Mg limestone.

[@francinemiranda8409]

Very helpful--thanks so much!

[@tiffanybalden5879]

Great info! Thanks for sharing

[@Detmold1965]

Thanks Luke. I had no idea😊

[@lisafulford5874]

Very informative & learned some great tips! Merci!

[@lindadavidson1389]

Interesting and makes sense. Thanks for the info.

[@cindyspiess9963]

Thanks ! That's a BIG HELP !

[@mudpiemudpie785]

Fantastic video, Luke. Thanks.

[@donfrommpls778]

Thanks for sharing this great information!

[@jameswoodall983]

This was the best info I've every gotten from you, and it's all been good. Thanks!

[@eigleenalegri2664]

Very useful tip! Thank you

[@belieftransformation]

Wonderful information; thanks for sharing! Blessings to all 🤗🇨🇦

[@barbaralong8665]

❤ Thank you for always having interesting content. Love to learn new things.

[@williamwelch7]

Thanks very much Luke

[@tagladyify]

Valuable info. Thank you. Generational knowledge is so important.

[@sheylaboucher3829]

Thank you! Realy useful informations as usual on your chanel!

[@bettygentry9672]

Thanks for this tip!

[@pt2575]

Thank you so much !

[@Vunderbread]

I love it. One of those things that makes perfect sense in retrospect, but I never noticed it.

[@aprilthomas9494]

Thank you. This has been added to my library of knowledge . And my order of strawberries are doing great

[@TearDrop455]

Thanks ! Valuable information 👍

[@deronaldbaggett3828]

Great Tip Thanks so Much!!!

[@abutterfly7975]

Last three videos, including this one have been fantastic……. I really enjoy following you you’re brilliant!!

[@MsCindyh]

Thank you for the info!

[@donnaeastridge5579]

Best info ever. Thank you

[@mddoit]

Great advise. Thank you

[@kkiissssiikk]

Cool! Thank you for sharing 😊❤

[@KoreyG80]

Great information 🙏🏻🙌🏻 thank you

[@d2w173]

Love this!! Very informative - thanks

[@debcox7839]

I value your contribution. Very worthwhile watch. Thanks! Practical and easy!

[@julianokleby1448]

That is AWESOME!!! Thank you so much!! It's raining now and I can't wait to get out there and look at mine! LOL

[@marilynrowland5197]

Excellent video, Luke! This information definitely encorages us to be more OBSERVANT! It helps when we know what we're hoping to see, and do see. Thanks!

[@ryanhopps7966]

Very interesting especially living near Lancaster, Pa my entire life. Thanks for sharing!

[@diannplatt-roberts8692]

Thank you for this info.

[@user-qr2kt2oq7s]

Thanks for the great info.

[@gregorykissell6753]

Good information.

[@joycee5493]

Very helpful.. thank you!!!

[@Chris29909]

Awesome info makes sense

[@floydt2029]

Great tips, thanks for sharing!

[@AppreciatrLife]

This was “super cool” to learn. Thank you 🪴

[@markhiggins3054]

6.4 is the bomb! For the soil and us!

[@wartimewisdomwithkate]

Thank you

[@sheribaioa7585]

Luke, my head hurts from all the knowledge you’ve been putting out this week! I’m mending my beds (zone 5b) planting this weekend. I hope I took good enough notes!