Garden Soil Sampling

The results of the NCDA&CS Agronomic Division soil test conducted on the Waymon Garden in March have arrived from Raleigh. The soil class of the Garden is mineral with 0.6% humic matter with a weight per volume of 1.08. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) is 7.9 with the percentage of CEC being 78.0%. Acidity is 1.7 and the current soil pH is 5.9. The phosphorous index of the soil is 30; the potassium index is 33; and the percent of CEC occupied by calcium is 69.0%. The percent of CEC occupied by magnesium is 7.0% and the manganese index is 254. The zinc index and the zinc availability index are both 1307. The cooper index is 819 and the sulfur index is 29 with sodium at 0.1.

The Agronomic Division’s recommendation is Lime 10 lbs (10-10-10 or equivalent) per 1000 square feet. Currently, the lettuce is producing very well, cabbage has signs of cabbage worms on two plants. The recommended treatment by JV, our County Extension Agent is Dipel (Bacillus thuringiensis) which has been applied.

As we've noted on the "about" page, the restoration and interpretation of the Waymon Garden demonstration project is made possible through first hand accounts of Waymon family members as well as general research compiled by Richard Westmacott in his book, AFRICAN AMERICAN GARDENS AND YARDS OF THE RURAL SOUTH (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1992). Images from the Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Collection of the Library of Congress are also being used in planning the restoration and interpretation.

Please note also that Farm Security Administration Best Practices (1932) have been included in the Waymon Garden restoration and interpretation to acknowledge (abeit conjecture) that J.D. Waymon would have had access to best practices through his contact with the Civilian Conservation Corps. These practices include the use of mulch as a moisture retainer and weed control in community gardens. The use of mulch is not traditionally associated with African-American gardens in the rural south. (R. Westmacott)

For more information on the Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Collection of photographs at the Library of Congress, please visit,

DOCUMENTING AMERICA at:

http://rs6.loc.gov/fsowhome.html