Getting down and dirty is the best part about berry growing. If you hate getting soil packed under your finger nails and are worried about staining your clothes with mud and muck, pick another crop. The roots of these small bush fruits need lots of tickling and tending to flourish and provide suitable crops. There’s nothing better for your berries than good old-fashioned elbow grease and a little bit of mother nature’s finest fertilizers.

Though there are many commercial-grade fertilizers available for berries, the best results for beginners are often achieved with organic soil recipes and practices that have been around for centuries. You may already have the ingredients for success, in your backyard or garden shed, for growing spectacular strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and ribes.

Two of the most important elements for success with berries include: compost and mulch. These two tried and true organic soil amendments, which increase the tilth, or richness, of your soil, can dramatically boost yields

The basics of a good compost heap is simpler than you might imagine. It’s really just a pile of organic trash including mostly plant waste such as vegetable scraps from dinner, yard waste and even a few pieces of cardboard. Avoid animal byproducts and fats that can create unpleasant smells and draw critters to your garden.

Pick a location that gets good air circulation and moderate sun. Most gardeners like to fence off an area with wire mesh material to allow for optimal air flow, while keeping the vermin out. The heap should be layered with different types of waste and spread thinly to increase the decomposition levels.

People often worry about an offensive smell wafting from their gardens and into their homes on a sunny day. But, truly, compost that is turned often and mixed thoroughly should have little smell, besides a slightly earthy aroma.

Compost needs to be kept moist but not wet, and it should be aerated and turned often - every couple of days. If a compost heap is well-tended it can decompose almost completely into soil in as little as 30 days - depending on the size of the heap and the types of waste added to it.

What you will be left with, a dark spongy soil sometimes referred to as humus, is worth its weight in gold. When mixed with manure, spread beneath your plants, and covered over with a thick layer of mulch, there’s no better treat for your crops.

Mulch is also essential for bountiful berry harvests. Mulching does several things: It helps retain moisture at the soil’s surface. It helps control weeds that might compete with the shallow roots of your plants. It “insulates” the soil to keep the roots from getting too hot or too cold. And it also adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes.

Many things can be used as mulch for berry plants. The most widely used organic choices are straw, dry leaves, wood shavings and pine needles. Spread thickly over the soil at the base of your plants, this simple amendment just makes plants happy.

Whether your adventures in berryland lead you skipping down trails with bushels of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries or ribes, don’t forget to stop and smell the dirt. The most important ingredient for success with these tiny favorites is as near as the ground beneath your feet. Tools in hand, manure at the ready, good luck and happy digging!