2-3 inches high quality compost
2-3 inches expanded shale
Organic fertilizer
Rock powders/lava sand, greensand, assorted minerals
Dried Molasses
2-3 inches native, hardwood, or cedar mulch
Instructions:
Till the soil 6-8 inches deep. Add compost and shale to specified quantities. Add organic fertilizer at 20 lbs. per 1000 sq. feet. Apply lava sand, greensand, and assorted minerals as a light dusting over the entire area. Dried molasses should be added at 10 lbs. per 1000 sq. feet. Roto-till entire area until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Do not remove any existing soil unless the bed area needs to be lowered in order to add these high quality ingredients. The final bed should be no higher than your existing foundation line (bricks meet the concrete). Away from the house, there are no limitations to the height of the beds. I do not recommend the use of peat moss or pine bark mulch as a compost additive. A high quality compost, that may cost a little more, will pay off in the long run. Rake entire area smooth and add a light layer of organic fertilizer prior to planting. Once you have planted, always top dress with a shredded mulch. Top dress of choice would be native, hard wood or cedar mulch, to a depth of 2-3 inches.
Note:
Due to the beneficial fungi in the soil, I no longer recommend adding horticultural cornmeal to basic bed prep. If beds are prepped properly, fungal issues should not be a problem. If they occur later, you can add the cornmeal at that time.