Gardening prep work

Our work at the farm the past few weeks has been around prepping for the gardening season. We decided to try some raised beds this year instead of row gardening, which got out of hand last year (let's just say we learned just how fast weeds grow!)

"Farmer Dad" helped us out tremendously by taking the weed eater to the prolific Bermuda grass. He put down some landscaping fabric, put the frames in place, and filled them with organic compost soil. In other words, he did all the work.

Then I planted the following:

Seedlings:

• cabbage
• broccoli
• onions
• asparagus

Seeds:

• lettuce
• bok choy
• kale
• Swiss chard
• spinach

I also cleaned out a berm-like area in the yard where there was once a very large pecan tree. Here's a picture of the "before" so you can see what a mess it was:

We've been trying to make an herb garden in the berm. A few years ago, "Farmer Mom" planted two lavender plants in it, and they're now huge. Last year, I planted sage, rosemary, cilantro, and parsley. Everything except the cilantro lasted through the winter. The rosemary looks especially healthy.

I planted a dill plant and some nasturtium and zinnia seeds in the empty spaces left in the berm, adding to the herbs and bulb flowers that were already there. If anything comes of it in the next few weeks, I'll try to remember to post an "after" photo.

Finally, we installed a couple of rain barrels (here's one of them!) We've been reading about how rain barrels can really save the day, especially in the dry months ahead.

In the next few weeks, we want to create some spaces for tomato plants, and establish a bed for the roses.

On a farm, the work never ends! But I've gotta tell ya, I love it much more than I ever thought possible. :)