John B. Marek

Last spring, I attended the Mother Earth News Fair in Asheville, primarily to take in a series of seminars on beekeeping. In between sessions, I wandered into a presentation on soil blocking, which I had heard of, but hadn't really given much thought. As these things so often turn out, I decided that beekeeping is not something I am ready to take on right now, but soil blocking is something I definitely want to give a try. Soil blocking is a method of seed starting that is popular in Europe and among small commercial growers in the United States. The basic idea is that seeds are started in blocks of a compressed soil mix without the need for a pot. This offers three key advantages: There is no need to purchase pots, ultimately saving money. Transplanting is easier, with less risk of shock. More plants can typically be started in a smaller space.  Each of these advantages, however, comes with a caveat, which is why the concept has been slow to gain acceptance among casu