Compost/living soil from nature??

[DTOM420]

I was doing some work at a local farm this morning and went exploring into the woods down in the flood plain of a creek. It’s FULL of oak trees and nobody goes in there except wild animals and an occasional cow. Well, the forest floor is covered with a layer of partially decomposed oak leaves and a smattering of weeds and local flora. I pushed the light layer of leaves back (thinking they’d be great for composting) and I uncovered the blackest most beautiful looking soil I’ve ever seen out in nature! It doesn’t seem to have the clay content that the local soil is known for.

I’m thinking it’s just a natural compost pile. What do y’all think? I can harvest as much as I want. It’s just GOT to be awesome stuff! Would it be considered “compost” or actually “living soil?” I’m leaning towards the later because it’s almost always moist in there and just has to be teeming with microbes!

What would y’all do with it?

@Rollin_along @912GreenSkell @hecno @Green Goblin

Here’s the immediate area

Here’s the leaf litter

Here’s the litter pushed back

And here’s the black gold I found that smells like what I imagine heaven to smell like!

 

[G.Leave]

Oak, maple and other hardwood trees provide some of the best well balanced soil for growing in. There wont be enough nutrients to handle a voracious feeder like a canna plant, but with some additions its one of natures best mediums.

 

[G.Leave]

I would dig up a bunch of it(top 8") and get some plants growing in it, in a location with great sun!

 

[G.Leave]

I used to use hardwood leaf soil back in the guerilla days...does a fantastic job for sure.

 

[DTOM420]

So, if I use it as the base for, let’s say, Coots’ mix Id be in pretty good shape?

I’ll definitely be adding some of my horse manure to it as well. Per your method!

I used to use hardwood leaf soil back in the guerilla days...does a fantastic job for sure.

 

[Green Goblin]

I would grab a small ziplock sandwich bag of it and send it off to Logan Labs so I could receive a print out of what the soil contains and take it from there..

 

[DTOM420]

I would grab a small ziplock sandwich bag of it and send it off to Logan Labs so I could receive a print out of what the soil contains and take it from there..

Thanks GG! I’ve never used them but I keep hearing their name here; so I’ll send them a sample. Which tests should I have them run....just a basic macro & micro content?

I just went and grabbed 110 gallons of it this afternoon! Lol

 

[hecno]

Now you are on the same page as me . Here are are 2 photos first the forest floor .

and what it produces , One of many large trees on my back door , and nobody feeds them .

I use a lot from the rain forest . The more you delve into it the more you can use .

 

[hecno]

Here is another spot . This is the type of soil after the wet season , Lots of worm castings and Curly grub castings I sieve the soil , I have a number of spots like this , as You can see the pile up of leaf litter , We have the wet season coming up which just keeps on adding to the soil . The leaf litter breaks down from one season to the next . with the soil in the photo I will be using as top up soil . Oh I have to keep a eye out for snakes too . This is what was left of one I found close to the pile .

 

[Archaic]

Forest floor soil can run a little on the acidic side and you need to make sure you don't bring in any pests, but rumor has it that mother nature was growing canna in it back in the day with a lot of success.