My Yard Transformation, As It Happens...

[John Gusmano]

Hey there fellas! Due to health issues last year, my gardens did not receive the attention they deserved and I did not do the things I really wanted to with the yard. So, this year I am going all out, BUT, it’s going to be a project. In this thread I will be keeping you guys posted on what is going on and the journey that it will entail.

First, with what little time I had yesterday I started breaking down an old privacy fence that I took down last summer for some friends. I kept scrap 2x4s and used the dog eared fence boards to make a 6’x6’ raised bed. It’s got roughly 11” in height as well. So as it sits right now, the only money I have invested into the gardens this year is what I paid for the seeds and the “Jiffy Seed Starting Kits”, that’s it. I found free dirt on craigslist, about 6 yards, and all the wood I’m using is free.

Once the first bed was built I first put down a layer of some leaves that were left over from last fall, then I spread some straw that was saturated with chicken manure from over the winter. I mixed in some crushed egg shells and some rabbit manure as well. I was only able to get a light base coating in, but hey, it’s a start! I plan on filling the rest with the dirt I got for free then topping the top layer off with some top soil mixed with peat moss for some ideal root gripping soil conditions when my starts go in.

Her is a picture of what I’ve got going on so far…

[nytrapper23]

Nice start john

[gator]

Great start John, i suggest useing grass clippings instead of the peat moss, mainly because its free, but it also containes microbes needed for decomposition of any " brown" plant material, It also aids in water retention, adds structure to the soil, and makes a great mulch, i use 3-4" every year, and do no weeding afterward, also, it helps warm the soil in spring, more so when useing a covering, all around good stuff! Also, you may want to sterilize the soil if you don't know what's in it. This can be easily done by " solarizing" with plastic sheeting, at least a week, to kill any harmfull bacteria

[John Gusmano]

Gator, thanks for the great advice! No grass clippings yet, still way too cold to even think about cutting the grass. I'm going to take your advice about the plastic sheeting though. Once everything is laid out....

[Deleted]

Looks like your off to a great start

Keep us posted

[John Gusmano]

Mar 16, 2015 16:28:15 GMT -5 @charder said:

Looks like your off to a great start

Keep us posted

Will do CJ!

[histopicker]

John; I advise strongly against the use of Peat moss in the garden. Remember; we use peat in trapping because it resists moisture retention. Bad news in the garden.
I am saying this out of past experience.

[gator]

Here is a brief tutorial on solarizeing, what you need is a roll of poly sheeting, and at least one case of beer, first, lay a sheet of the poly directly on the soil, then, drink the beer, and place the empty cans on the first sheet( be sure the poly fits tightly to the sides of the bed) next, place a second sheet of poly over the first, and arrange empty cans so that the two sheets don't touch, and staple or weight down, the size of your bed will determine how many empty cans you'll need. After a few days, ttake the temp. of the soil, target temp. is 120 for at least 3 days, this will kill bacteria like tricanosis and botchalizm

[John Gusmano]

Mar 17, 2015 9:17:29 GMT -5 gator said:

Here is a brief tutorial on solarizeing, what you need is a roll of poly sheeting, and at least one case of beer, first, lay a sheet of the poly directly on the soil, then, drink the beer, and place the empty cans on the first sheet( be sure the poly fits tightly to the sides of the bed) next, place a second sheet of poly over the first, and arrange empty cans so that the two sheets don't touch, and staple or weight down, the size of your bed will determine how many empty cans you'll need. After a few days, ttake the temp. of the soil, target temp. is 120 for at least 3 days, this will kill bacteria like tricanosis and botchalizm

Ha! Anything that requires beer in the instructions can't be too bad!!! Might have to give it a shot! Thanks!

[John Gusmano]

Well, I was able to get a little bit more done out in the yard last night…

Here is what was left of my old ram shackled pallet chicken coop, which obviously wasn’t predator proof! I’m still pissed about that damn grinner!



….And I was finally able to move my girls back outside in their new coop!



In that open space next to the coop, that is where I will be planting my squash, pumpkins, and watermelon. I’m leaving the pallets there with hopes that it will give them something to “vine out” on.

[farmertrappe]

John, you might want to consider driving a 2x4 down on the middle of the outside of our bed boards to keep the boards from bowing out when filled with dirt and you start working in the beds. My first bed did that to me. Looks good, keep at it and have fun and veggies.