This is a brand new vegetable plot coming into its own.I started work on this last fall, when I planted the garlic, but time got away from me. I am committed to the idea of raised beds, and so, until I get some time to replace them, these awful railroad ties (I had them on hand) will at least keep the soil from collapsing. The beds have been worked up and amended, though it really doesn’t look like it. They have been so windblown this spring that they have a film of sand over the tops. If you drop a spading fork into one, the tines will disappear into rich, fluffy soil. At this point, it looks fairly good, but with our desert soil- heavy clay in some spots, and sand in others, but no organic material to be found- it will take a few years to really build this soil. It’s off to a good start.
When the windy season finally abates (soon I hope) I will mulch the pathways, and after I plant my seedlings I will mulch the beds. More than likely with oat straw, and then this fall horse manure. My daughter has two on- site factories in miniature, see them here.
