How Do I Get Those Tall Stems?

If you’ve been part of Cool Breeze for a while or read about my farm (What We Believe ), you know that I don’t spray chemicals. It’s a choice I’ve made because it is important to me to protect the health of the insect population on my farm. This doesn’t mean, however, that I don’t spray anything. In fact, about once a week I spray a whole lot of my flower field with a home brew of natural inputs that nurture the flowers and the soil.

The inputs that I use are mostly derived from “Korean Natural Farming,” or KNF, for short.  KNF is a sustainable agricultural system developed by Dr. Cho Han-kyu that utilizes indigenous microorganisms and fermented local materials to create nutrient-rich, low-cost inputs. It aims to eliminate external fertilizer and pesticides, increase plant yields, and regenerate soil health by adding materials that improve soil and plant health.

Of the inputs I use, one of the easiest to make is called water-soluble calcium, abbreviated as WCA. This liquid extracts calcium from eggshells, which I then add to root soaks, or in foliar sprays to increase the calcium available to my plants. Calcium is crucial for cut flowers. Calcium is essential for building strong plant cell walls and membranes, acting as the structural "skeleton" that supports overall growth and rigidity. It stimulates root and leaf development, aids in nutrient absorption, and acts as a signal for plant defense against pests, disease, and environmental stresses like heat.

To make WCA I begin by collecting all my used egg shells. Once I’m finished with them, I rinse them off, crush them in my hand and store them in a bag in the freezer. Once I’ve collected a lot, I roast them in the oven, on a tray on parchment paper at 200 degrees for about 30 minutes.

After the shells have cooled, I crush them some more and put them into a container and cover them with apple cider vinegar (unpasteurized with the mother). It is important to add the vinegar over time as the bubbling action can cause the liquid to spill out of the container. Once the vinegar has had time to extract the calcium, about 7 - 10 days, I strain out the egg shells and store the calcium-rich vinegar in a sealed jar. I keep mine in the refrigerator because it is cold and dark, but I’m not sure it matters.

When applying to my plants I use roughly 2 tablespoons of WCA to a gallon of water. Of course the amount of calcium is not exact. It will depend on how many eggshells you use, and what the chickens have been fed, but I have found it an easy, natural way to get calcium to my plants. I apply WCA in a backpack sprayer with other natural inputs, and I always foliar spray my plants in the evening when it is cooler and the sun won’t cause leaf scorch. It can also be mixed into a watering can and applied in the home garden.

 I also use 1 tablespoon of WCA per gallon of water in my root soak when I’m transplanting seedlings.

Everything I know about natural inputs I’ve learned from Jennie Love and the Regenerative Flower Farmers Network, so if you are hungry to learn more, I highly recommend that group.

WCA is an easy, low-risk input. If you try it, let me know if you notice a difference.