Here is the space we stared with.
Yesterday was a ground-breaking day, literally. What will one day be compared, I’m sure, to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, began development. As we stepped outside, I felt the air. It was like dipping your toes into a pool and wanting to swim, but not sure if you are willing to submerse yourself in the cool water. The sun was shining but didn’t seem to cut into the cold breeze at all. Then we started digging. Sweatshirts quickly peeled off as the realization of the difficulty of the work set in. Mother Nature has had a stronghold on my back yard for many years and She seemed not at all ready to let go. Grass roots are an amazing network of strength. If the political idea of “grass roots” were applied like the lawn in my yard, anything would be possible. These plants were very resistant to removal, but we persevered.
Progress was a bit slower than we had anticipated, but in about 3 1/2 hours we cleared out a 10′x15′ area. We need to turn the dirt some more, remove some rocks and sand some areas that have a clay consistency. We also plan to lengthen the garden about 8-10 more feet.
We did encounter two other problems as we dug. One, apparently my neighborhood was built on an area full of sheet rock. There are a lot of stones to be removed and even a small area where the layers and layers of stone are just too much, maybe we’ll put a scarecrow in that spot. The other problem that surprised us was the shade over a portion of the garden just a but after noon. I have been looking for a reason to prune my trees back anyway, so we made some calls.
Other than that, we are so ready and excited to grow! Many thoughts passed through my head as we began to dig. I am so thrilled to be taking part in an activity that is as old as man, I can’t wait to taste the first fruits of our labor. There is something about digging in the Earth, planting seeds, eating from the yield cared for by your own hand and having a yard that won’t be a Barren Land anymore that feels like true food vigilance!
FV!
Of you’re nice, I’ll give you a tomato,
FV
Eat This NY
The Duchess of Amboy
Nice job you guys! I know a rototiller would have been a big help to you but all in all,a nice job!ZP said she hopes you don’t have deer problems like we do.If you know a remedy or if your readers have one,please let us know in this blog!Happy Easter everyone!
“I am an old man, but I am a young gardener.” Thomas Jefferson
Well this is week two of the garden and the the Duchess reported that some seeds were sown today.(In the Garden guys!). I haven’t dug any more since the weekend before Easter. Instead I’m cleaning up following the cutting of my old apple tree.Lots of cleanup to do. But once that’s done more digging here.The competition will begin once my 40 acres are dug!
Hey readers of FV. Now that we are either starting a garden or contempating on starting one I have a request; ZP and I have deer infestation. I think it would be great if any of the readers who have knowwledge on solving this problem let us all know. How about it FV?
(Please only serious solutions).