Yes, that is what it felt like Himself and I were doing on Saturday afternoon.
I knew the area had never been tilled, but what I failed to remember was for years the man who used to own the house had parked his cars, trucks and boats in the same area, and it was packed as hard as concrete.
Himself took four passes across it just to cut the sod off of the top.
He then asked if I had a 'pick ax'. I have 3. So to work we went.
We busted up each end of the garden with the pick axes, then he started the tiller again, this time since the tiller was already deep in the dirt it was easier for it to continue cutting into the dirt at the deeper level.
Every time he stopped to rest I handed him a beer (which the next day he informed me that during those breaks he would happilly accept a gatorade) so he wouldn't get dehydrated.
I also wanted to keep him happy cause I knew this wasn't turning out to be a whole lotta fun.
A job that I thought would take anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes ended up taking 6 hours!
We ran the tiller out of gas 3 times and on the last time we were done.
But there is still more to do.
I am particulary happy that it is raining as it is going places that it hasn't been in a long time and thus softening the dirt.
The dirt that feels like concrete, is once tilled, beautiful rich dark almost black dirt, and I am excited for the next clear day that Himself will come till it the final time.
I currently have plants waiting in nursery beds to be placed in the big plot, and I just can't wait.
Thank you to good neighbors with cool toys, that can be used to create so much.
I found out that Himselfs favorite vegetable is peppers....all kinds, and you better believe this man will have peppers coming out of his ears this summer.
4 comments:
Steph, did you ever get that plot tilled up? It should be pretty easy since we've had so much rain. I think I'd be gathering up as much rotted leaves as I could from wherever I could and till it in to loosen that stuff up. It might take this year just to get the soil workable for next year. I hope not.
I've been pretty lazy about my veggie garden the past two weeks. I was sidetracked with my herb and flower beds. Missed my time for planting beans and corn will have to wait for the New Moon now to get them in. Better a little late than never. So far everything is coming along pretty good.
I wish I had thought of or someone had told me about using straw years ago. This is really working out well for me. I'd rather take a beating than pull weeds. I've pulled a few weeds but not enough to gripe about. Going to get some shredded hardwood mulch tomorrow for my herbs and flowers. Always plenty of work to do outdoors.
Hi Donna,
This concrete disguised as grass and soil, is a pain in my butt!
Himself firmly planted the Troy Built Pony up to it's axel and we had to wait for the 'concrete' to dry enough to try this again.
This will be till #3!
I really have never had to work with the land soooo much. I suppose I have been very blessed, yet this year I have decided to place a garden in the very spot that the local tow truck driver parked his gianormous tow truck, and left it ideling for sometimes all night. Which I have concluded has packed this soil to into the most compact state in which soil can exist.
I have the tomatoes, and peppers in the nursery bed that has historically been my kitchen garden, these are coming along nicely.
I have 4 spinach plants that actually came up. No go on the carrots, and the peas are fabulous.
If I can get him over to till this weekend; according to my understanding of your instructions, I can only plant root veggies at this point?
And I can't plant the beans and corn and watermelon?
I really want to plant some potatoes and sweet potatoes, and leeks, parsnips, beets, carrots, and turnips, but I want these for winter. What is the day that you put in these things for a winter garden? Oh and collard greens too!
Let me know. I really want to do it according to the moon cycles.
My friends are laughing at me and asking if I'm going to wear a white dress and twirl in the moonlit garden at midnight at any point. They want to watch but I can't get any of them to participate.
Sounds like your friends are what I call poke and hope gardeners. Poke a plant into the ground and hope it produces, LOL. To each their own.
Right now, up until the 24th plant root crops. On the 24th put your above ground crops in, they'll be late but they'll be fine.
I'll start my fall beds in July, early August. I'd hold off on beets, collards and turnips until August though. July gets a bit to hot. Carrots take forever it seems so I plant them again in early July.
Thanks for the clarification Donna!
None of my gardening buddies are very experienced, but I would agree with you about their poke and pray methods.
They were real sure about a winter garden. But, I'm gonna teach them.
I think your right, I am going to really work on this soil.
And get it really workable good soft loam. Just in time for my fall/winter crops.
Himself is a brewer and in return for his tilling services I have promised him peppers, but I really thought it would be cool to find some hops for him.
Any ideas?
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