Muckspreading

Weds 17 Jan 2018

We've used up all the wood we had for the ceiling boards, and have decided to get one large order for the rest of the mezzanine ceiling.  This will have to wait some days for delivery, so in the meantime, we can get on with some gardening. 

We have already sorted out two of the on-contour 'Moringa' beds (named for the trees we want to plant here (and everywhere else!), but the third one had never been finished.

 First the bed is dug out with a ditch on the uphill side and a mound on the downhill.  This will help the bed retain rainwater.  It should be a one-time only setting up dig.

 Then we lash well-rotted goat manure all over ...

 cover it with cardboard ...

 and rake woodchip over the top

 The cardboard acts as a slow biodegrading sheet mulch.  The manure feeds the soil, and the woodchip holds water and also slowly releases nutrients into the soil.  In a few years, this will be great topsoil.  In the meantime, we'll plant some nitrogen-fixers and mineral accumulators to help the process along.

 Dave goes on his first 'horta hunt' of the year (horta means 'edible weeds' in Greek).  Yummy, fresh greens for supper!

 And my new doormat (from Turtle Mats) has arrived.  Far too pretty to wipe muddy boots on, but that's what it's there for