At this time of the year, when the temperatures rise and the snow melts, people turn their eyes toward spring gardens. For many, they will want all the plants in after the last frost and their gardens looking great. For others there is planting of seeds and Seedy Saturday – which has an organic twist to it. The event that I attended had seeds for sale, some political activities which as an energy investor it did not concern me; and helpful hints. Sometimes the helpful hints are the ones which can generate the most ideas. If you are to plant seeds or flowers, one of the things you should do is to ensure your soil is going to continuously generate the food for the plants. It used to be people only considered 3 important items for plants – nitrogen, potassium and sulphur which is the count on the fertilizer bags; it turns out while they are very important, there are many other nutrients your plants need and the real work is done by tiny bugs. In a session by a worm provider, if you have worms in your garden, it is going to be a good garden. If you do not see worms, you need to add mulch to ensure worms do their digging and leave their worm castings or worm poop. If you add worm castings to you soil, it will automatically improve it. If you have good soil – things will grow in it.

Linking to dividend paying stocks, a number of years ago, a book was read about the value of worms and the role they play in a good soil conditions. Fertilizers will do the work, but worms do it better and you will gain consistently better results. The interaction of nature will keep the negative aspects to a minimal. In investing, you are looking for simple but effective solutions. Does the company have a monopoly or near monopoly which means prices can rise if costs rise? How does the company keep its competitors to ensure it keeps its controlling market share? Examining the right conditions of the soil or the right conditions for the company to making profits and thus paying you dividends makes your life easier.

There are more questions than answers, till the next time – to raising questions