Garden Progress

 Lately, these have been my dance partners

I've been spending lots of time behind the shovel, getting these new raised beds filled

And ready for planting. DH brought me 5 skid steer loads of dirt

And 3 tubs of horse manure

We didn't want to collapse the center supports so that's why he didn't dump the dirt directly into the beds. I filled 1 bed and it took A LOT of shoveling and it reminded me that I am no longer a spring chicken.

Once I had the dirt shoveled in, I topped it off with a combination of shavings from the chicken coop, horse manure, top soil, peat moss, and vermiculite. I'll add a layer of mulch after everything's planted. And yes, DH offered to help numerous times, but I really welcome the workout, I just have to pace myself and he's been helping friends brand.

The kids came out on Friday and it was all hands on deck to finish filling the rest of the beds

Three 8 x 4 x 2 beds hold A LOT of dirt and I partially filled them with cardboard and wood scraps and branches. But I think the hard part is done and I can put the shovel away for now.

I love it when the kids come out and spend the day and it was fun to introduce little E to gardening

When she spends the night, she finds a little something under her pillow - I knew these would be put to good use

All that black dirt just brings me so much joy and hopefully that's being passed on to the next generation

We got a few things in the dirt

Being this is our first shot at gardening here, it's going to be a trial and error year, but I'm excited to watch everything take root.

                                    

And this happened on May 1st with an added 0.3" the following day. It was slow and gentle and we are so grateful. 

It's been a dry, warm winter. Our only moisture has been two 6" snows - one in December and one in January, but I'm optimistic and yes, I'm one of those people that walk out to their garden in their jammies with a mug of tea first thing in the morning to see what's grown overnight. 😊