What do you do when you have a garden area that is chock full of weeds? There was a time when I would just have jumped right in. That time is in the past. My back hurts just thinking about it.
It was obvious I needed some help if we were to have a garden this year. But who?
It was obvious I needed some help if we were to have a garden this year. But who?
Along came this group of young ladies who asked for the job (in their own way). I didn't see how they were going to hold a hoe or a rake but they assured me they had their way.
Getting them started wasn't tough. No picking through lines of day laborers here. Just open the gate. If you left that gate open you didn't even need a time clock. I saw as many as 8 at the same time so guess they liked their job. You have to look hard but there are four here.
Getting them started wasn't tough. No picking through lines of day laborers here. Just open the gate. If you left that gate open you didn't even need a time clock. I saw as many as 8 at the same time so guess they liked their job. You have to look hard but there are four here.
This is after 2-3 days of leaving that little gate open. There are still weeds around the outside but it wasn’t very hard to get what was left.
As you can see the garden has been weeded but more was needed. In the top picture and here again you can see the two end posts connected with cable. That was for the grape vines we planted one year when I was still busily occupied with earning a living.
The drought took care of them so I thought it might be better to make the (now) useless posts go away. As you can see, there is a heavy chain wrapped around the post. I removed a couple scoops of dirt with a shovel before we pulled on the chain.
The drought took care of them so I thought it might be better to make the (now) useless posts go away. As you can see, there is a heavy chain wrapped around the post. I removed a couple scoops of dirt with a shovel before we pulled on the chain.
Do not do this at home. In fact don't do it with a rope instead of a chain. A nylon tow strap is even worse. Do not do it without something between your vehicle and the post. It is unpredictable when it is suddenly freed of the earth.
You could ask me how I know but it is several vehicles ago and best forgotten.
Whatever, in this example the chain held down the post. If it had not, there was this old trailer (already in need of work) that would have taken the beating.
You could ask me how I know but it is several vehicles ago and best forgotten.
Whatever, in this example the chain held down the post. If it had not, there was this old trailer (already in need of work) that would have taken the beating.
Here is the landscape crew hard at work on another aspect of the job. They are inspecting the compost or potting soil for bugs that might take an interest in the new garden.
The wheelbarrow on the other side of the trailer gave its all the next day. Here it can be seen assisting in the movement of said potting soil.
One surprise I took away from this job is how shortened the lifespan of landscape timbers has become since the EPA changed the poison used in them.
The wheelbarrow on the other side of the trailer gave its all the next day. Here it can be seen assisting in the movement of said potting soil.
One surprise I took away from this job is how shortened the lifespan of landscape timbers has become since the EPA changed the poison used in them.
Here are the plots filled with new soil. I am disappointed that I wasn’t able to teach the chickens how to put up these little stakes and fences. I understood that they couldn't drive but I had hopes for this part. The hammers just keep slipping out of their little wings. The two small plots once housed fig trees which also fell victim to the drought and the full time job. It will be something new this time.
It cost $24 for all the compost or potting soil I could carry.
The chickens did scratch out a batch of soil but rain and time did also.
Now just waiting for the warmer weather to get here before I plant. I suppose you could discern that from the ice in the trees. It sure would have been a lot tougher without the chickens.
The chickens did scratch out a batch of soil but rain and time did also.
Now just waiting for the warmer weather to get here before I plant. I suppose you could discern that from the ice in the trees. It sure would have been a lot tougher without the chickens.
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