Weekend in Review: The Garden Begins- sort of

Life began in a garden...

Friday following the funeral, Ornery changed clothes and we hopped in Big Red to fetch a load of lumber. I had done a bit of research on growing asparagus that morning, so by the time we went for the wood I had added another raised bed to my plans. We bought twenty 2"x12"x8' "green treated" boards, and five 2x4x8' for the corners. We are using a plan similar to this for our design, only some of the beds will be two boards tall to make them easier to tend. I think I will use those for the root type vegetables at first--I intend to rotate crops from year to year.

I tried all day to call the dirt company, but both phones went to their fax, and even though I left a message, I didn't hear back. We aren't nearly ready for the dirt, but I like to be prepared!  The plan is to get some free manure mixed with bedding next weekend--if we get the grass dug out and the beds set up before then. After that first layer is down, we'll get the garden soil to fill the beds. There is a local company that mixes compost into top soil for an excellent garden mix. It is expensive but cheaper than buying the bags--I think.

Saturday morning, Elizabeth arrived to give us a hand with the construction. (She does seem to be a glutton for punishment!) First I fed her pancakes. :)  We talked for a while, then went outside to work in the yard.  Ornery had hauled his miter saw back there, and started working on a bed.  While we were taking a break, I read the "warnings" on the lumber tag and we decided we won't be using it after all.  He cut two boards that we won't be able to take back, but it looks like we'll either need to get cedar or just replace the pine boards every few years. Cedar is considerably more expensive, but at least it won't make our food toxic!

Elizabeth and I trimmed the oak tree in the back and cut up all the branches to haul off. We also pulled out the dead laurel bushes from the back of the flower bed. Then Ornery got the chain saw out and leveled a huge holly in the corner of the back yard and we worked at cutting that up to haul off. Wicked stuff, those holly leaves!  She left around 2:00, and we took a nap. Being outside in the beautiful weather was nice, but quite exhausting!

We had dinner then watched Pride and Prejudice and went to bed early.

Sunday we went to Panera for a quick breakfast, then to Whole Foods, home and back out to finish grocery shopping at Reasor's. (local chain)  Other than that, not much happened around here!