2009-10-11 Farmer Adria's Report

Hi everyone,

Well I figured the ground would be a tad wet for garden work today, but since it looks like we will have a lot more rain next week I drove the equipment over and made the best of it. The ground was a bit damp, but dry enough to work. I spread about 30 cubic yards of compost on the top terrace and another 20 yards on the bottom half.

I'm not sure if these will come through embedded or as attachments.. Hopefully there are pictures below!





Oh -- when I got there this morning someone had just planted 7 strawberry plants on the top terrace, and there were a few stones lined up in a circle. I didn't see any seed stakes, so I moved the rocks to the side for the time being. I also carefully dug up the plants (which were still in the peat pots) and put them to the side. I re-planted the strawberry plants after I finished up today.



So, after spreading the compost I used the bottom-plow to turn it under. The bottom plow cuts anywhere from 12-18" deep. It's important that we introduce organic matter deep below the surface, since we don't want the soil to return to the way it was before (clumped together and as hard as some of the bricks we've picked out). Also, adding compost will provide lots of yummy nutrients for plants as their roots grow down.

Here I've spread the compost out about 4" deep across the top. The blue plow folds the compost over and pulls more clay up on top.




After turning the compost under I used a heavy-duty roto-tiller to mix the clay & compost together.


I'm thinking of using rye grass as a cover crop on the lower half. Rye is great since it grows well in in the cold, and its roots extend very deep in the soil -- deeper than I've plowed. The more we break up the hard clay underpan the better. Next spring I'll turn the rye under and introduce more compost prior to planting. I love the clover that's been planted on the terrace slope and elsewhere, so that's an option too.


The top terrace is ready to be used now, though it could use a little more compost next year before spring planting begins.



Here are the replanted strawberries:



Morning dew...


So -- that's it for tonight. If the pictures didn't make it through, you can see them all (and a few more) here: http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t274/queen_of_spodes/A%20Girl%20and%20Her%20Tractor/DHS%20Community%20Garden/ I'll try to have a more formal blog set up soon. :)

Adria