About 92 percent mineral soil and about 8 percent organic matter does not mean exactly, that is a rough ratio to shoot for. Most soil scientists would say that 5 percent OM is adequate, but I have found over the years that plants simply grow better when the OM is in the 8 percent range. In addition to a soil test from a reputable lab that tells you what the soils pH and major nutrient levels are34 maybe these simple soil tests will be of some help, 1) Soil test for organic matter. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. 2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drainsâ too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy.

Last year I tackled a problem of slowly diminishing David Austin Roses, as well as a cutting garden that sloped to the north end so that the cutting flowers there did not get enough sunshine in late fall or early spring, Since this was for producing roses rather then as a landscape feature I used thin cement blocks raised 3 blocks high. I had this bed built to the same pattern recommended in "The Cinderblock Garden", (Can't remember the author and I am traveling right now" but its what I used for my vegetable garden. For this bed I laid down really good landscape cloth to cover the area wide enough for two beds with 4' pathways around them. My husband roto-tilled the beds to even the ground, sine the beds are crosswise to the rows we were cultivating. I can't remember the exact dimensions of the cinder blocks but only that they are maybe 6" wide. We made the bed 4 1/2 blocks wide or about 4' wide (interior). I used a base layer of 3-way organic garden mix soil purchased, and topped with a thick layer of organic compost which was purchased from our local supplier. Each bed is about 20' long. I Moved 12 English roses into each bed, planted in alternating rows . About half of these were rescued dwindling roses from a bed that was succumbing to advancing shade and tree growth, voles and soil that no additive seemed to "fix". The new roses were bands from Heirloom that had been growing through the summer in very large raised pots. Now, one year later, I would call the experiment a success, though it could soon become a jungle if I am not careful with my pruning! After one of the coldest, greyest summers in the Pacific Northwest that is known for them, the rose bushes are taking off, and I just went through and tied them to bamboo teepees. I have been able to save all but one of the moved roses and that one will be replaced (a grafted William Shakespeare 2000 that was down to root stock) Jude the Osscure, Jubilee Cellebration, Charles Darwin, Christopher Marlow, all are growing like they never did before! I have had to do very little weeding, my 4 garden hens love to pop up to the top and keep the soil turned, whilc eating any bugs that exist, though I do have to go through and scoot the soil back over the rose roots occasionally, I do not like drip irrigation and this is about an acre away from the house supply, but I found a great little sprinkler that can be set to long narrow beds and needs little water pressure. I use it early in the day and let the leaves dry before the shade comes down. It sprays a fine mist that does not move the soil around. By the way, my new this spring "Claire Austin" Rose is just starting to produce and it is lovely! Benjamin Britton is the only rose that has not recovered well, but it still gets a bit too much shade from huge maples, It is putting out a lot of new canes so I think next year it may do better. I find myself gravitating to this bed after picking my dahlias every day to simply enjoy what is happening in it, and have a word with my pretty chickens, and the ducks who wander around on the ground level. Next year I can again sell English Roses in my mixed bouquets in my cut flower business, for the customers who love them for what they are! I also grow the Freelander roses in a bed that is a single cinderblock high, but that has been less successful since it is hard with spinal arthritis to keep it weeded so low down. The roses do fine but I can not keep them weeded, and in that bed I used no landscape fabric, Those roses share the bed with daffodils and hyacinths, and other bulbs for spring cutting.

With no intent to be a 'smart-ass'; "What would you do if someone said it wasn't "normal"? My point is this: You're going to get lots of "advice" on the internet. Many people that give that advice will be SERIOUSLY offended if you don't do EXACTLY what they say to get to their concept of "normal". From my perspective, the most salient part of your post - with respect to your "normal" question - is: "the red wigglers still seems to be healthy". Again from my perspective, there is very little "normal" in worming in plastic containers. Therefore, if "bad" ain't happenin', 'relax, and go with the flow'. On the other hand, if you feel the need to "do something", then DO IT, and see what happens. If the result is "good", good. If the result is bad, don't do that again. My bins look like "hell" compared to what many "experts" call "right" (TONS of "pot worms" and springtails). Still, the E. fetida (red wigglers) are doing "fine". Paul

Good morning, everyone! allison, The 1/2 bath might be considered a 'folly' down there! I do have a small area around it somewhat finished, but the rest of it will always be a spot to work on my many hobbies, like furniture refinishing, messy crafty stuff, you-name-it. I also have a doggie door in the opposite 'working' side of the cellar, that goes to a former garage under my office, which I made that into a wood working 'shop' years ago. Another doggie door in the shop takes them out to their fenced in area of the yard. The cellar and the shop are valuable real estate to me, just as they are. I do have 3 windows and a door with glass in that 'living' part of the cellar, as well as a wood stove, and an armoire with a TV it in. It's cozy in the winter with the stove, and cool in the summer and the couch down there is great for naps! These pics are of my former LR sofa down there and a 'reading' nook with big chair. Not much decorating has taken place yet! The door you see on the right in this pic is to the 1/2 bath. This is the reading nook which faces the wood stove. Being a dog lover, I got this original oil painting of a Springer from eBay for $21.49! His eyes are a perfect match to the Behr 'Cork' paint color. And this is Ikat fabric called Casbah, that I got at 1/2 price at Ballard Designs. I might make sill length panels for the 1/2 bath for fall and winter from it. The way it goes with that paisley wallpaper is the stuff that (my) dreams are made of. I'm happy to see so many paisley lovers here, as I have always been one, and I LOVE to mix patterns in a room, even a small one like this. I'm glad that others are inspired by my 're-cycled' bathroom! I'd never have done it if there hadn't been a rough one down there to start; but I just replaced that with one that even I'll use. No more storing tires and hoses in this one.