2010-01-16 Farmer Adria's Report

Happy New Year!

We met at the garden this morning to prepare several existing plots and turn the "back 40". Weather was cold and cloudy, and eventually rainy. My feet are still cold!

Lots was accomplished today, and we're looking forward to our next workday at the end of the month.

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

2009-09-13 Farmer Adria's Report

We finally had a break in the rain so I drove by the DHS Community Garden to see how the clover Bruce planted was taking hold.

The soil isn't in the best condition now, so it's no big surprise that the cover wasn't taking root and growing as vigorously as we'd hoped. If we didn't touch this ground again for a few months, it would be right back where it was last month before we prepped -- hard as a brick! So, it is important that we continue working the soil by adding as much organic matter as possible. This will help provide nutrients for our cover crops later this year.



Here's the "back 40" :o)



This is the terrace below the existing raised bed plots. There are lots of rocks and brick still buried in the dirt in this plot.



Clover sprigs in the lower terrace (poking up between the bricks, metal poles, concrete blocks, pipes, ect :o) )



Looking up from the schoolyard entrance:


The reason why we created several terraces is to protect the soil from eroding during hard rains. If you've ever walked through the woods and wondered why there are so many evenly spaced ridges, or berms.. it's simple! Those woods weren't there 50 years ago. My grandparents owned a farm in what is now Hapeville - they grew a large garden of veggies, raised pigs and chickens and even had a cow. Where we see malls & shopping centers now, used to be pasture and fields of corn, beans and cotton. Farmers have used terraces (or berms) to conserve soil for as long as we've been farming.

Red clover in red clay!



Poor clover. Yes, the soil needs our attention. Hopefully we'll have compost delivered soon which we can begin working into this clay.