Lesson 5: SOILS (Again!) pH & Plant Nutrients
Garden Work

1. Measuring the pH of soils

Most vegetables like a pH of 6.5 - 6.8. How do you measure the soil pH?

Each child had been asked to bring in a soil sample from home and we used an Innoculo test kit to measure the pH of each sample. We did this outside because it was going to make a mess it also meant that we could sample the garden soil and the contents of the worm bin.

This was a great point in this garden project. Four of the thirteen students had come with more than one sample. Their parents wanted to know more about the pH of the soils in their gardens at home!

2. Changing the pH of soils

How do you change the pH of soils?

We talked about:

worms which have a neutral pH
wood ash which is alkaline
sulphur which is acid

3. Wood ash bucket

Most Gundaroo houses had a wood stove so we organised another bucket and roster for the children so that they could collect wood ash for the school garden.